South Korea Sets Snap Presidential Election for June 3 to Choose Yoon’s Successor

South Korea has scheduled a snap presidential election for June 3 to choose Yoon Suk Yeol’s successor, after the conservative leader was ousted for imposing martial law late last year, Hyung-jin Kim reported for the Associated Press (AP).

The Democratic Party’s likely candidate is Lee Jae-myung, who observers say is the clear front-runner. Photo: 경기도 뉴스포털 Wikimedia Commons

Acting President Han Duck-soo made the announcement four days after the Constitutional Court unanimously removed Yoon from office. According to the law, an election must be held within 60 days of a presidential removal, and the new president will serve a full five-year term.

South Korea’s political parties are expected to launch primaries in the coming weeks to select their presidential candidates.

The election is expected to be shaped by deep political polarization, likely turning into a two-way showdown between Yoon’s People Power Party and its chief liberal rival, the Democratic Party, which holds a majority in the National Assembly.

The Democratic Party’s likely candidate is Lee Jae-myung, who observers say is the clear front-runner. A powerful party leader, Lee faces no significant challengers within the party.

He narrowly lost the 2022 election to Yoon and led the party through a political crisis in which many of its members confronted troops sent by Yoon to encircle the National Assembly.

The legislature later voted to strike down martial law and impeached Yoon.

Attention is now focused on whether the conservatives can regroup and field a strong candidate to compete with Lee.

The People Power Party faces an uphill battle, struggling to restore public confidence and heal deep internal divisions left in the wake of Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law.

About ten politicians from the People Power Party are expected to seek the nomination.

Among the party’s presidential hopefuls, Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo is considered the most pro-Yoon.

He and Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo opposed Yoon’s impeachment, while former party leader Han Dong-hoon and senior lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo supported removing him from office. Another major candidate is Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who has maintained an ambiguous stance.