South Korea calls snap election after Yoon ousted
2 Min Read
South Korea is set to hold a snap presidential election on June 3 after President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office for unlawfully declaring martial law and deploying troops to disrupt parliamentary proceedings.
-
South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, center, and his party members shout slogans during a rally calling for impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's dismissal at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on March 19, 2025. (AP)
South Korea will hold a presidential election on June 3 following the dramatic impeachment and removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his declaration of martial law, the country’s acting leader announced on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is serving as acting president, said the government "is to set June 3 as the date for South Korea’s 21st presidential election," noting that the day will be designated a temporary public holiday to ensure voter participation.
Yoon was stripped of office by the constitutional court for breaching his duties by issuing a martial law decree on December 3 and deploying military forces in an attempt to block proceedings in parliament.
Under South Korean law, a presidential election must be held within 60 days if the office becomes vacant.
The wider context
The political crisis erupted when Yoon’s martial law order stunned the nation, leading to his swift impeachment by lawmakers. Prime Minister Han was also impeached, though the constitutional court later reinstated him. He will remain in the role of acting president until voters elect a new head of state.
The power vacuum has cast a shadow over Seoul’s response to escalating economic pressures, including heightened US tariffs and a regional slowdown, amid tense dealings with US President Donald Trump’s administration.
Lee Jae-myung, the populist liberal leader of the Democratic Party who narrowly lost to Yoon in 2022, is currently the front-runner, though he remains entangled in several legal battles, including charges of election law violations and bribery.
The conservative People Power Party, reeling from Yoon’s downfall, now faces a wide-open race. Labour minister Kim Moon-soo declared his candidacy on Tuesday, emerging as the party’s most prominent contender.
It is worth noting that a Gallup Korea poll published on 4 April showed 34% of respondents favouring Lee for the presidency. Kim Moon-soo followed with 9%, ahead of former party leader Han Dong-hoon at 5%, Daegu mayor Hong Joon-pyo at 4%, and Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon at 2%.
Read more: South Korean president indicted as 'ringleader of an insurrection'
