Tue Apr 08 02:19:29 UTC 2025: ## South Korea to Hold Snap Presidential Election on June 3rd
**Seoul, South Korea –** South Korea will hold a snap presidential election on June 3rd following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol, the government announced Tuesday. Yoon was removed from office last week by the Constitutional Court for illegally declaring martial law in December. The court’s decision triggered the need for a new election within 60 days, as mandated by law.
Acting President Han Duck-soo, whose own impeachment was overturned, will remain in power until the election. The political turmoil surrounding Yoon’s actions has overshadowed crucial diplomatic efforts with the United States amid escalating trade tensions and economic slowdown.
The leading candidate is Lee Jae-myung, the populist leader of the Democratic Party, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 election. However, Lee faces ongoing legal challenges. The conservative field remains wide open, with recent polls showing significantly lower support for their potential candidates. A Gallup poll from April 4th placed Lee at 34% support, while the highest-polling conservative candidate, Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo, garnered only 9%.
The election is expected to be highly contested, with the political landscape significantly reshaped by the recent events. The power vacuum caused by the crisis has already impacted South Korea’s ability to navigate international relations and address domestic economic concerns.
First Piper 