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South Korea Prepares for Snap Election as Yoon Departs Official Residence

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol leaves office following impeachment, while frontrunner Lee Jae-myung campaigns on economic reform ahead of June 3 vote.

Supporters of recently ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol attend a rally to oppose his impeachment near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
A supporter of recently ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol weeps during a rally to oppose his impeachment near the the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Supporters of recently removed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold a banner with a picture of Yoon near his private residence in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, April 11, 2025. The part of letters read "President Yoon Suk Yeol." (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
A supporter of recently removed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol carries flowers near Yoon's private residence in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, April 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Overview

  • Former President Yoon Suk Yeol has vacated the presidential residence, marking the end of his tenure after his impeachment was upheld by the Constitutional Court last week.
  • Yoon faces ongoing legal challenges, including a trial for insurrection, as he returns to his private residence in Seoul with mixed public reactions from supporters and critics.
  • Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, the frontrunner in the June 3 snap presidential election, has officially launched his campaign, focusing on addressing economic inequality and boosting growth through government-led initiatives.
  • The conservative People Power Party is struggling with internal divisions and a fragmented field of candidates, with no single contender polling close to Lee's commanding lead.
  • The upcoming election follows months of political turmoil triggered by Yoon's controversial and short-lived martial law declaration in December, which deepened societal and political polarization.