John AdoyiSouth Korea will hold a presidential election on June 3, 2025, to choose a new leader following the impeachment and removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol, acting President Han Duck-soo announced on Tuesday.
The announcement comes just days after the Constitutional Court upheld Yoon’s impeachment over his controversial and short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024. The move had plunged Asia’s fourth-largest economy into political turmoil and economic instability.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe court’s final ruling last Friday, delivered by an eight-member panel of justices, formally ended Yoon’s tenure, triggering the constitutional requirement to hold a new presidential election within 60 days.
“In consultation with the National Election Commission and other relevant agencies, we have decided to set June 3 as the date for South Korea’s 21st presidential election,” Prime Minister Han said during a press briefing. “We also took into account the need to ensure smooth election operations and allow sufficient time for political parties to prepare.”
To facilitate voter turnout, the government has declared June 3 a temporary public holiday.
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Following the court’s ruling, the Election Commission promptly began early registration for candidates. Prospective contenders are required to complete registration by May 11, with the official campaign season commencing the next day on May 12.
The upcoming election is expected to reshape the nation’s political landscape, with two of the country’s biggest parties, the People Power Party (PPP) and its rival, the Democratic Party (DP), already signaling high-stakes contests.
According to news reports, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, is expected to run in the election. His approval rating currently stands at 34 percent. Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential race, now leads a party that holds a parliamentary majority, giving him a strong political base heading into the election.
For the PPP, however, no clear frontrunner has emerged. Several figures have declared their intentions to run, creating a competitive internal race. Among them is Kim Moon-soo, the country’s labor minister, who resigned shortly after the election date was announced to launch his bid for the presidency.
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“I tendered my resignation and decided to run because the people want it, people I know want it, and I feel a sense of responsibility to solve national difficulties,” Kim told reporters.
PPP lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo has also thrown his hat into the ring, branding himself as a reform-minded candidate. “I am a cleaner candidate than anyone else,” Ahn said.
He pledged to drive South Korea’s economic growth and counteract U.S. President Donald Trump’s renewed trade tariffs.
According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, more than ten candidates are expected to declare their intentions to run under the People Power Party banner, setting the stage for a fiercely contested race within the conservative camp.
As the election approaches, all eyes will be on how these emerging candidates navigate the volatile political environment and offer solutions to the country’s pressing economic and social challenges.
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