South Korea is set to hold a snap presidential election on 3 June following the dramatic ousting of President Yoon Suk Yeol by the Constitutional Court last week. The unprecedented move comes in the wake of Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024 and his subsequent deployment of military forces against the National Assembly.
Under South Korean law, a presidential election must be held within 60 days of a president’s removal from office. With the country now plunged into a leadership vacuum and political uncertainty, all eyes are on the upcoming contest to determine who will take the helm during a challenging economic and geopolitical period.
Martial law and impeachment
The crisis was triggered on 3 December 2024, when President Yoon imposed martial law amidst a political deadlock in the opposition-controlled National Assembly. Justifying his actions, Yoon claimed there were emerging threats from “anti-state forces” allegedly linked to North Korea and accused lawmakers of sabotaging national security.
Although the martial law order was revoked within six hours, the move was widely condemned both domestically and internationally. Critics saw it as a brazen attempt to sideline Parliament and concentrate power in the executive. The National Assembly responded swiftly, voting to impeach Yoon, setting in motion legal proceedings that would lead to his formal dismissal.
The Constitutional Court unanimously upheld the impeachment, stating that Yoon had “gravely violated constitutional principles” and undermined democratic order. He was briefly arrested in January on charges of insurrection but released in March when a court ruled the arrest warrant invalid. Nevertheless, legal proceedings against him are ongoing, and the former president still faces a potential life sentence if convicted.
Acting president and political turmoil
Following Yoon’s removal, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stepped in as acting president, attempting to maintain governmental stability amid the upheaval. However, the political crisis has added to existing national concerns, including slowing economic growth and rising tensions with key allies such as the United States, which recently imposed tariffs on South Korean exports.
The leadership vacuum has reignited fierce political competition in a country already polarised by ideology and regional divides.
The candidates
Leading the pack ahead of the June election is Lee Jae-myung, head of the Democratic Party and a seasoned politician who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential race. A recent Gallup poll places Lee at 34 per cent support, giving him a comfortable lead in the race to the Blue House.
On the conservative side, Labour Minister Kim Moon-soo has emerged as a contender with 9 per cent backing. Other potential candidates include Han Dong-hoon, former ruling party leader (5%), Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo (4%), and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon (2%).
The conservative bloc remains fragmented, and it is still unclear whether a unifying figure will emerge in time to pose a serious challenge to Lee. Meanwhile, calls are growing within the ruling People Power Party to restore public confidence following Yoon’s removal and to present a platform focused on restoring democratic norms and economic recovery.
What’s next?
The upcoming election is being seen as a litmus test for South Korea’s democracy. With the memory of martial law fresh in the public consciousness and Yoon’s legal battles far from over, voters face a stark choice between returning to centre-left leadership under Lee or embracing a new conservative vision amid ongoing political uncertainty.
As campaign season ramps up, the electorate will be watching closely to see whether candidates can offer stability, transparency, and a vision forward for a country still reeling from an unprecedented constitutional crisis.
