Tue Apr 08 04:45:10 UTC 2025: ## South Korea to Hold Presidential Election on June 3rd Following Impeachement of Yoon Suk Yeol

**Seoul, South Korea** – South Korea will hold a snap presidential election on June 3rd, Acting President Han Duck-soo announced Tuesday. The election follows the impeachment and removal from office of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted for attempting to illegally declare martial law in December.

Yoon’s attempt to subvert civilian rule led to his swift impeachment by lawmakers and subsequent removal from office by the Constitutional Court last week. The court upheld the impeachment, triggering the need for a new election within 60 days. The June 3rd date was chosen after consultations with the National Election Commission and other agencies, taking into account the need for adequate preparation time for political parties. The day will be declared a public holiday.

The winner of the election will be inaugurated the following day, unlike a typical election which allows for a two-month transition period. Prime Minister Han, who himself faced impeachment earlier but was cleared, is currently serving as acting president.

The official campaign period will run from May 12th to June 2nd. Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 election, is currently leading in opinion polls with 34% support. He is followed by Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo at around 9%. Millions of South Koreans witnessed the Constitutional Court’s decision live on television last Friday. Yoon’s attempt to deploy troops to prevent his impeachment was deemed by the court as deploying troops for political purposes. Yoon also faces separate criminal charges related to the incident.

South Korea has faced a leadership vacuum for the past four months, coinciding with a series of crises including an aviation disaster, deadly wildfires, and the imposition of 25% tariffs on its exports to the United States. The upcoming election is expected to be closely watched both domestically and internationally.

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