Yoon Suk Yeol quits People Power Party ahead of snap election
3 Min Read
As South Korea's snap election nears, the former president's exit comes amid internal pressure and low poll numbers for conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo.
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South Korea's ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, who is facing charges of orchestrating a rebellion when he declared martial law on Dec. 3, arrives to attend his trial at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 12, 2025 (AP)
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol announced on Saturday that he is leaving the conservative People Power Party (PPP), further shaking up the political landscape just weeks before the country’s June 3 snap election. His statement, issued via Facebook, comes as the PPP’s presidential candidate, Kim Moon-soo, continues to lag in opinion polls behind liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung.
A Gallup Korea poll released Friday revealed that only 29% of respondents support Kim, compared to 51% who back Lee, the Democratic Party nominee.
“I am leaving the People Power Party to fulfill my responsibility to protect the free Republic of Korea ... Please lend your support to Kim Moon-soo,” Yoon wrote, invoking South Korea’s official name.
Yoon’s abrupt departure follows mounting pressure from within his own party. Senior PPP members had been urging him to withdraw from the party leadership in an attempt to broaden support among centrist voters, many of whom remain alienated by his past actions.
Wider context
His declaration of martial law in December, followed by impeachment and removal from office, triggered the political crisis that ultimately led to the upcoming election. The fallout weakened the ruling party’s national standing and continues to affect its candidate’s performance.
The announcement sets the stage for a critical moment in the election cycle: the first televised debate between Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo, scheduled for Sunday.
With only weeks remaining before the vote, the debate could prove pivotal in reshaping public sentiment.
Yoon's trial, legal risks
Yoon was first indicted in January, while still in office, on charges of leading an insurrection, a crime not covered by presidential immunity, as the trial remains ongoing.
In a formal statement, the prosecution said, "In parallel with the insurrection proceedings, we have been conducting additional investigations into the abuse of power, leading to this new indictment." However, if found guilty of the insurrection charge, Yoon faces life imprisonment or the death penalty, though South Korea has upheld a de facto moratorium on capital punishment since 1997.
Yoon is now the second president in South Korean history to be removed from office and the third to be impeached by parliament, an indication of the growing political instability surrounding the country’s highest office.
