South Korea Sets June 3 Snap Election Following Yoon Suk Yeol’s Impeachment

South Korea will hold a presidential election on June 3 to replace ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol, acting President Han Duck-soo announced Tuesday, marking the culmination of a four-month constitutional crisis triggered by Yoon’s unprecedented declaration of martial law in December 2024.

The Constitutional Court’s unanimous April 4 ruling to uphold Yoon’s impeachment has thrust the nation into a high-stakes political contest, with opposition leader Lee Jae-myung emerging as the early frontrunner amid deepening societal divisions and economic strain from U.S. trade policies.

Yoon’s December 3 martial law decree—which deployed troops to block lawmakers from entering the National Assembly—was swiftly overturned by legislators and deemed an unconstitutional power grab by the court.

The ruling described his actions as a “serious breach of the people’s trust” and a violation of democratic norms, citing his failure to follow legal procedures and his use of military force against political opponents.

Yoon, now facing criminal insurrection charges, becomes the first South Korean president to be removed from office under criminal indictment, though executions remain unlikely given the nation’s de facto moratorium on capital punishment.

The election pits conservatives, still reeling from Yoon’s downfall, against a resurgent liberal bloc led by Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in 2022. Lee, whose 34% approval rating outpaces rivals in recent polls, must navigate ongoing legal battles over bribery and election law violations while capitalizing on public anger over the martial law debacle.

The ruling People Power Party (PPP) faces internal fractures, with former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo and three-time presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo announcing bids, though neither has yet consolidated conservative support.

The election occurs amid escalating trade tensions with the U.S., where President Donald Trump’s 25% tariff on South Korean exports threatens key industries like semiconductors and automobiles. Acting President Han emphasized the need to “heal national wounds” while balancing diplomatic outreach to Washington, though the absence of elected leadership complicates negotiations during this critical window.

Yoon’s six-hour martial law episode reignited fears of authoritarian backsliding in a nation still grappling with the legacy of military rule. While his supporters decry the impeachment as politically motivated, mass protests demanding accountability highlighted robust civic resistance to executive overreach.

The June 3 vote will test whether South Korea’s democracy can reconcile these fissures while addressing youth unemployment, housing affordability, and regional disparities.

The National Election Commission has designated June 3 as a public holiday to boost turnout, with candidate registration and official campaigning to begin by mid-May.

The winner will assume office immediately upon certification, bypassing the traditional transition period to address urgent policy demands[^9][^7]. As South Korea navigates this pivotal moment, the election represents not merely a leadership change but a referendum on the nation’s democratic trajectory in an era of global uncertainty.