2025 South Korean presidential election
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An early presidential election will be held in South Korea on 3 June 2025. Originally scheduled for 3 March 2027, the election was pushed forward following the impeachment and removal of Yoon Suk Yeol.[2][3] The date of 3 June is due to the requirement by the constitution of South Korea for an election to be held within 60 days of a permanent presidential vacancy, which has been the case since the 4 April decision of the Constitutional Court of Korea to uphold the impeachment and remove Yoon from office. Later, it was confirmed by the government the date of the election would be set on 3 June regardless.[4][5]
Since democratization and the establishment of the Sixth Republic, this will be the ninth presidential election, the second election after a presidential impeachment, and the first held in a different year than originally scheduled.[6]
Background
[edit]Following the declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol on 3 December 2024, the National Assembly voted to impeach him on 14 December 2024, with 204 of 300 lawmakers in support.[2][7] On 4 April 2025, the Constitutional Court of Korea upheld the impeachment, removing Yoon from office and vacating the presidency. Under the constitution, a presidential election must be held within 60 days to determine Yoon's permanent successor as the country’s 14th president.[8][9][10] On 8 April, acting president Han Duck-soo announced that the election would be held on 3 June 2025.[11][12]
Electoral system
[edit]The president of South Korea is elected via a single-round plurality voting system, for a term of five years. Incumbent and former presidents are ineligible to seek re-election.[6] Unlike regularly scheduled presidential elections, the winner of this election will take office immediately after the results are confirmed by the National Election Commission, without a two-month transition period as usual.[13]
Candidates
[edit]The National Election Commission (NEC) opened preliminary candidate registrations on 4 April 2025, following the confirmation of Yoon's impeachment and removal. Incumbent heads of municipal governments who intend to run for president must resign from their positions by 4 May.[14]
Declared
[edit]
On 9 April, Lee Jae-myung announced his resignation from leadership of the Democratic Party.[15] On 10 April, Lee announced his candidacy for the presidency, his campaign promises being to decrease economic inequality and stimulate economic growth through investments, while also hoping to reinforce diplomacy between South Korea, the United States and Japan.[16]
- Kim Doo-kwan[17] (former Member of the National Assembly)
- Kim Dong-yeon[18] (Governor of Gyeonggi Province)
- Lee Jae-myung[16] (Member of the National Assembly)
Confirmed candidates
[edit]
Potential candidates
[edit]_(cropped).jpg)
Declared
[edit]
The People Power Party will announce its official candidate for president at its party convention scheduled on 3 May 2025.[24]
Declared
[edit].jpg)
- Ahn Cheol-soo (Member of the National Assembly)[25][26]
- Kim Moon-soo[27] (Minister of Employment and Labor)
- Han Dong-hoon[28] (former Minister of Justice)
Confirmed candidates
[edit]
Potential candidates
[edit].jpg)
Declined or ineligible
[edit].jpg)
- Cho Kuk[34] (former Member of the National Assembly): Cho was sentenced to prison in December 2024, making him ineligible to run for office until December 2031.[35]
Opinion polls
[edit]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "South Korea sets June 3 as date of election to replace Yoon". Al Jazeera English. 8 April 2025. Archived from the original on 8 April 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ^ a b Rashid, Raphael; McCurry, Justin (14 December 2024). "South Korean parliament votes to impeach president". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ Nauman, Qasim (3 April 2025). "South Korea Awaits Court Ruling on Impeached President's Fate". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 5 April 2025. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
- ^ Ji-Hwan, Paik (7 April 2025). "Gov't sets snap presidential election for June 3". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on 8 April 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ "South Korea sets snap presidential election for June 3, drawing out contenders". Reuters. 8 April 2025. Archived from the original on 9 April 2025.
- ^ a b "Republic of Korea: Election for President". IFES. Archived from the original on 21 January 2025.
- ^ Wong, Tessa; Mackenzie, Jean; Kwon, Jake; Choi, Leehyun (14 December 2024). "South Korea's president impeached by parliament after mass protests over short-lived martial law". BBC News. Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
- ^ "Yoon Suk Yeol removed as South Korea's president over short-lived martial law". AP News. 4 April 2025. Archived from the original on 8 April 2025.
- ^ "South Korea's president has been removed from power: What happens now?". BBC. 4 April 2025. Archived from the original on 4 April 2025.
- ^ "South Korea's Yoon removed from office over martial law, election looms". Reuters. 5 April 2025. Archived from the original on 8 April 2025.
- ^ "South Korea to hold presidential election on 3 June". BBC. 8 April 2025. Archived from the original on 8 April 2025.
- ^ "정부, 21대 대통령 선거 6월 3일 확정‥임시공휴일 지정". MBC News (in Korean). 8 April 2025. Archived from the original on 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ "Acting president discusses snap election process with NEC chief". The Korea Herald. 4 April 2025. Archived from the original on 8 April 2025.
- ^ "(LEAD) Acting president discusses snap election process with NEC chief". Yonhap News Agency. 4 April 2025. Archived from the original on 8 April 2025.
- ^ 조선일보 (9 April 2025). "이재명, 당 대표 사퇴... "새로운 일 시작" 대선 출마 수순". 조선일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ a b Park, Ju-min (10 April 2025). "South Korea opposition leader Lee Jae-myung declares presidential run". Reuters. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ "Kim Du-kwan announces presidential candidacy as first progressive contender in Korea". CHOSUNBIZ. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ Yoo, Cheong-mo (9 April 2025). "Gyeonggi governor declares presidential bid". Yonhap. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ 신진영·송승현 (10 April 2025). "김경수 전 지사, 이번 주 중 출마 입장...민주당 '친문' 합류 얼마나". 아주경제 (in Korean). Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ Koo, Hye-jin (4 December 2024). "복권되자마자 김경수 '꿈틀'…조국 제치고 범야권 대선 주자 3위로". JTBC (in Korean). Archived from the original on 20 January 2025. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ Park, Soon-bong (12 January 2024). "총선 출마 선그은 이낙연, 대선엔 "지금은…" 여지". Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Kim, Hyung-jun (11 April 2024). "동탄서 살아난 이준석, '분열의 아이콘' 극복하고 차기 대선주자 위상 찾나". Hankookilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on 11 April 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Sung, Jiwon (18 March 2025). "尹 선고 앞두고…개혁신당, 이준석 대선후보 선출". The JoongAng (in Korean). Archived from the original on 22 March 2025. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
- ^ Yi, Wonju (9 April 2025). "People Power Party to pick presidential candidate May 3". Yonhap. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ Bae, Jae-sung (29 April 2024). "차기 대통령은 누구죠? 질문에…안철수 "접니다!" 손 번쩍". The JoongAng (in Korean). Archived from the original on 29 April 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "안철수, 오늘 광화문 광장서 '대선 출마' 선언". KBS 뉴스 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 8 April 2025. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ^ Kim, Eun-jun (9 April 2025). "Labor activist-turned-conservative politician announces bid for president". Yonhap. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
- ^ "Ex-PPP leader Han Dong-hoon announces presidential run". The Korea Times. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Lee, Jun-hee (14 May 2024). "오세훈 국민의힘 지지층 외연 확장 나서, '대선 잠룡' 존재감 서서히 드러낸다". Business Post (in Korean). Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Lee, Joyce (8 April 2025). "Seoul mayor Oh Se-hoon to announce bid for South Korea presidency, Yonhap reports". Reuters. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
- ^ Hong, Min-seong (13 September 2023). "홍준표 "내가 특이해 보이는 이유? 한국 정치판이 비정상이라"". hankyung.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ "Hong Joon-pyo resigns as Daegu mayor to run for president, eyes election victory". CHOSUNBIZ. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
- ^ Han, Sang-hee (7 May 2024). "유승민 "남은 도전 27년 대선 딱 하나…당대표 출마 깊이 고민"". News 1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Lee, Jae-ho (31 March 2024). "조국혁신당 총선 돌풍 대선까지? 조국, 차기 대통령 여론조사 3위". Pressian (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2 April 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
- ^ Park, Tae-hun (13 December 2024). "조국 "감옥 가면 턱걸이, 푸시업, 스쾃, 책 읽기…슬감생" 다 계획이 있다". News1 (in Korean). Archived from the original on 13 December 2024. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
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