South Korea Sets June 3 for Presidential Election After Impeachment

South Korea has tentatively scheduled the next presidential election for June 3, according to a report by Yonhap News citing an unnamed government official, as per Bloomberg.

The election was triggered by the Constitutional Court’s unanimous decision on Friday to remove Yoon Suk Yeol from office due to a violation of the constitution with his martial law decree issued on December 3.

Under South Korean law, a presidential election must be held within 60 days of an incumbent’s ouster. Acting President Han Duck-soo is expected to formally announce the election schedule during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Yonhap reported.

If the schedule is confirmed, candidate registration will be required by May 11, with the official campaign period commencing on May 12. The law also stipulates that public servants intending to run for president must resign from their current positions at least 30 days before the election, setting a deadline of May 4 in this case.

The Constitutional Court’s ruling against Yoon centered on the finding that he undermined the military’s political neutrality by deploying troops to parliament to confront civilians.

Yoon’s impeachment has sent shockwaves through financial markets and created a leadership void at a critical time. The country is also grappling with the fallout from an aggressive tariff campaign launched by the Trump administration, which last week imposed 25% duties on South Korean exports, among the highest levied on a major US ally.

The incoming president will face the daunting task of navigating the challenging economic landscape created by Trump’s tariffs, as well as healing a deeply divided nation following four months of political turmoil and unrest sparked by Yoon’s martial law decree.

Recent polls suggest opposition party leader Lee Jae-myung is the frontrunner to replace Yoon, with a Gallup poll released on April 4 indicating support from 34% of respondents. Kim Moon-soo, the labor minister under Yoon’s administration, is also a leading contender, according to the poll.