South Korea is set to conduct a presidential election on 3 June, according to the country’s acting president, following the removal of former leader Yoon Suk Yeol from office due to a disastrous martial law declaration.
Since December, South Korea has been essentially leaderless after Mr. Yoon attempted to undermine civilian governance, resulting in his swift impeachment by lawmakers and subsequent suspension from office.
Last week, a court upheld his impeachment, removing him from the presidency and triggering new elections that must take place within 60 days.
The government has engaged in “discussions with the National Election Commission and other relevant agencies,” stated Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
Yoon Suk Yeol is the second South Korean leader to be impeached by the court
Consequently, they have settled on “3 June as the date for South Korea’s 21st presidential election,” he noted, adding that this day would be declared a temporary public holiday to aid voter participation.
Mr. Han urged ministries and the National Election Commission to “prepare thoroughly to ensure an election that is fairer and more transparent than ever, one that can earn the public’s trust.”
Unlike standard elections, where an elected president has a two-month transition period, the winner of the election on 3 June will be inaugurated the next day.
For now, Prime Minister Han is managing the government as acting president, a role he resumed after the Constitutional Court dismissed his own impeachment.
Presidential elections generally occur on Wednesdays, but no specific weekday is mandated for snap elections due to a vacancy.
Read more: Thousands rally for South Korea’s impeached ex-president
The official campaigning period will commence on 12 May and continue until 2 June.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is leading in several polls, holding a 34% approval rating according to the latest Gallup survey.
His party currently controls the National Assembly.
He narrowly lost to Mr. Yoon in the 2022 presidential race but has made a political comeback as the leader of the main opposition, despite being entangled in legal challenges, including ongoing trials.
In a distinct second place is Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo.
Polling around 9%, he tops a group of contenders from Mr. Yoon’s People Power Party, which also features former party chief Han Dong-hoon.
Protesters opposed to Yoon Suk Yeol participate in a rally to celebrate his expulsion
Millions of Koreans watched live on television as the Constitutional Court delivered its verdict last Friday, officially removing Mr. Yoon from office.
Mr. Yoon dispatched armed soldiers to parliament in an attempt to thwart politicians from overturning his decree, which the court declared constituted using troops for “political purposes.”
He is the second South Korean leader to be impeached by the court, following Park Geun-hye in 2017.
Since the martial law declaration, South Korea has been without a functional head of state for four months.
This leadership vacuum has coincided with a series of crises, including an aviation disaster and the worst wildfires in the country’s history.
Last week, South Korea faced a 25% tariff on exports to its key ally, the United States, following President Donald Trump’s announcement of global reciprocal levies.
Additionally, Mr. Yoon is facing a separate criminal trial on charges of insurrection related to his martial law attempt.
