South Korea Sets June 3 Election After President Yoon’s Ouster Amid Martial Law Scandal
South Korea has officially scheduled a snap presidential election for June 3, following the dramatic impeachment and removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose controversial declaration of martial law plunged the country into months of political chaos.
Acting President Han Duck-soo announced the date, confirming that it will be declared a temporary public holiday to ensure voter participation. The decision complies with South Korea’s constitutional requirement to elect a new president within 60 days of a vacancy in the top office.
Yoon was ousted by the Constitutional Court after he violated his presidential duties by unilaterally imposing martial law on December 3, mobilizing military forces in an attempt to suspend parliamentary activities — an unprecedented move that led to his swift impeachment by the National Assembly.
The crisis deepened as the impeachment wave also reached Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. However, the Constitutional Court later reinstated Han, who continues to serve as acting president until the election.
This leadership vacuum has significantly disrupted South Korea’s domestic and foreign policy efforts, particularly in dealing with escalating trade tensions with the United States under President Donald Trump, while Asia’s fourth-largest economy faces slowing growth.
In the upcoming race, opposition leader Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party — who narrowly lost to Yoon in 2022 — is currently the leading contender. However, Lee’s campaign is clouded by legal troubles, including multiple trials on charges ranging from election law violations to bribery.
The ruling conservative People Power Party has yet to rally around a single candidate. Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo has declared his candidacy, while other notable figures in the mix include former party leader Han Dong-hoon, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.
A recent Gallup Korea poll published on April 4 shows Lee Jae-myung with 34% support, followed by Kim Moon-soo at 9%, Han Dong-hoon with 5%, Hong Joon-pyo at 4%, and Oh Se-hoon at 2%.
As South Korea prepares for one of the most consequential elections in its recent history, the outcome could reshape the nation's political direction amid legal controversies, economic headwinds, and regional tensions.