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South Korea has scheduled a snap presidential election for June 3 following the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The decision, finalized by the cabinet on Tuesday in coordination with the National Election Commission, also establishes the date as a public holiday.
Yoon was ousted by the Constitutional Court last week for violating his constitutional duties after declaring martial law on December 3. His attempt to deploy military forces to disrupt parliamentary proceedings led to swift impeachment by lawmakers and nationwide unrest. Under South Korean law, a new president must be elected within 60 days of a vacancy.
Political turmoil has gripped the country since Yoon's controversial move, which also saw acting President Han Duck-soo briefly impeached. However, Han's impeachment was later overturned, and he will remain interim leader until the election.
The crisis comes as South Korea faces economic headwinds, including rising U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump and slowing growth in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.
In the upcoming election, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party and Yoon’s narrow rival in 2022, has emerged as the front-runner. According to a Gallup poll released April 4, Lee holds 34% support. However, he faces legal hurdles from ongoing trials for alleged bribery and election law violations.
The conservative camp is fragmented, with Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo polling at 9%, followed by ex-party leader Han Dong-hoon at 5%, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo at 4%, and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon at 2%.
With the political landscape reshaping, the June 3 vote is expected to determine the country’s direction amid ongoing domestic instability and international economic pressures.
