South Korea sets snap presidential election for June 3, drawing out contenders

South Korea has officially set June 3 as the date for a snap presidential election following last week’s dramatic removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The decision, announced Tuesday by Acting President Han Duck-soo during a Cabinet meeting, comes amid a deepening political crisis sparked by Yoon’s controversial attempt to impose martial law last December.

Yoon was ousted by the Constitutional Court on Friday for violating his official duties after he ordered troops to mobilize to halt parliamentary proceedings. His declaration of martial law stunned the country, plunged it into political uncertainty, and triggered lawmakers' impeachment.

South Korean law requires a presidential election to be held within 60 days if the office becomes vacant, setting the stage for a high-stakes vote that could reshape the nation’s political direction.

The power vacuum at the top of the government comes as Seoul struggles to manage slowing economic growth and strained trade relations with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

The snap election is likely to influence both domestic policies and South Korea’s diplomatic posture in the months ahead.

Several prominent figures have already stepped forward as potential successors. Among the first is Kim Moon-soo, Yoon’s former labor minister, who resigned from his Cabinet position on Tuesday and announced his candidacy.

Kim, who is not currently affiliated with the ruling People Power Party, is polling ahead of most other conservative hopefuls. Speaking to reporters, he said he felt compelled to run due to the country’s deepening crisis and the public’s call for leadership. He emphasized the need for political unity and pledged to focus on reviving livelihoods and steering the country through what he called a “severe national crisis.”

Another early contender is Ahn Cheol-soo, a PPP lawmaker who was the first in his party to vote in favor of Yoon’s impeachment. Ahn, who has previously run in three presidential elections, announced his bid on Tuesday, calling himself “a cleaner candidate than anyone else.”

He said his campaign would focus on securing new engines of economic growth, including artificial intelligence, to help South Korea navigate global headwinds such as rising U.S. tariffs.

Kim and Ahn are entering a crowded field of conservative candidates, all of whom face the challenge of rebuilding public trust after the PPP’s second impeachment in less than a decade.

The conservative party also lost former President Park Geun-hye to impeachment and imprisonment in 2017 following a corruption scandal.

On the liberal side, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential race, is widely seen as the front-runner.

He is expected to step down as party leader and formally announce his candidacy later this week. A recent Gallup Korea poll showed Lee commanding 34% support among respondents, far ahead of other hopefuls. However, Lee’s campaign faces complications of its own, as he is currently involved in several legal cases, including charges of violating election law and bribery.

Other notable conservative names in the running include former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. But none of them has yet managed to close the gap with Lee in the polls.

While Yoon has been removed from office, his legal troubles are far from over. He is set to stand trial on charges of criminal insurrection, with proceedings scheduled to begin on April 14.

Acting President Han, who briefly faced impeachment himself before the Constitutional Court overturned it, will remain in charge until the new president is sworn in.

As South Korea enters yet another turbulent election cycle, the stakes are high. The next administration will inherit not just a fractured political landscape but also growing economic pressures and a diplomatic balancing act with the United States and regional powers.

The coming weeks promise intense political maneuvering as candidates vie to shape the nation’s future at a time of unprecedented uncertainty.