South Korea Sets June 3 for Snap Election
South Korea will hold a snap presidential election on June 3, Acting President Han Duck-soo announced Tuesday, following the Constitutional Court’s decision last week to uphold the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his controversial declaration of martial law.
The country has been without an effective leader since December, when Yoon attempted to subvert civilian rule by deploying troops to parliament in a failed bid to block lawmakers from voting down his decree. The court ruled last Friday that Yoon’s actions amounted to using the military for "political purposes," stripping him of office and triggering a constitutional requirement for a new election within 60 days.
Prime Minister Han, who is serving as acting president, said the government had consulted with the National Election Commission and other agencies before finalizing the date. Authorities also considered the need for "smooth election operations and sufficient preparation time for political parties," he added. June 3 will be designated a temporary public holiday to encourage voter turnout.
A High-Stakes Race Amid Deep Political Divisions
The election is expected to be a fierce contest between the conservative People Power Party (PPP), which Yoon once led, and the liberal Democratic Party (DP), which currently holds a majority in the National Assembly.
Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 election, is the clear frontrunner, with recent polls showing him holding 34% support. The DP’s dominance in parliament and public backlash against Yoon’s martial law decree have bolstered Lee’s position, despite his ongoing legal troubles, including multiple corruption trials.
Meanwhile, the PPP faces an uphill battle to regroup after Yoon’s impeachment exposed deep internal rifts. Several potential contenders are vying for the nomination, including Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo and former party leader Han Dong-hoon. Analysts say the party must reconcile its pro-Yoon loyalists with reformist factions that supported his removal to stand a chance in the election.
"The conservative party needs a candidate who can appeal to moderates and young voters, not just its base," said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security.
Yoon’s Fall and Lingering Political Turmoil
Yoon’s impeachment marks the second time in less than a decade that a South Korean president has been removed by the courts, following Park Geun-hye’s ouster in 2017 over a corruption scandal. His downfall stems from his December decree, which sent armed soldiers into Seoul’s streets—a move that evoked painful memories of past military rule and sparked nationwide protests.
With Yoon now stripped of presidential immunity, he faces a criminal trial on insurrection charges, while his party grapples with the fallout. Meanwhile, South Korea has endured months of leadership paralysis amid crises ranging from deadly wildfires to economic tensions with the U.S., which recently imposed steep tariffs on Korean exports.
The official campaign period will run from May 12 to June 2. Unlike in a regular election, the winner will be sworn in immediately, bypassing the usual two-month transition period.
As the race heats up, the key question is whether the PPP can unite behind a viable candidate—or if Lee Jae-myung’s momentum will carry him into office despite his controversies. Either way, the election will shape South Korea’s political landscape for years to come.