Overview

• The snap election was announced on April 8, 2025, and will take place on June 3 to fill the presidency after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment was confirmed last week.
• Yoon was removed from office for violating the constitution by declaring martial law in December 2024, which involved deploying troops to suppress parliamentary proceedings.
• Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party and a prominent opposition figure, is considered the frontrunner, though he faces ongoing legal challenges including multiple trials.
• The conservative People Power Party is struggling to unify and rebuild its image, with several candidates, including former labor minister Kim Moon-soo, entering the race.
• The election comes during a period of political and economic challenges, including U.S. tariffs and concerns about South Korea's slowing economic growth.