South Korea is to conduct a snap presidential election on June 3 after President Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached and removed from office, the country’s acting president declared on Tuesday. The move, agreed in a cabinet meeting, comes four days after the Constitutional Court confirmed a parliamentary motion to impeach Yoon for his controversial declaration of martial law last December.
Acting President Han Duck-soo who is the Prime Minister stated that the government had worked with the National Election Commission and concerned agencies to have smooth election operations and to provide enough time for political parties to prepare. The day will also be declared a public holiday to make voting possible throughout the country.
Yoon, who was elected to a five year term in 2022, ignited a constitutional crisis on December 3 by temporarily imposing martial law and mobilizing soldiers in a bid to suspend parliamentary deliberations. He invoked political obstruction and anti-state forces as grounds for the move. The National Assembly quickly overturned the decree and the court subsequently ruled that Yoon had violated his official duties and crossed his presidential responsibility.
The event sparked mass outrage and fear of a return to South Korea’s past as an authoritarian state with images of soldiers facing lawmakers being compared to South Korea’s pre-1987 military dictatorships.
According to South Korean law, there should be a new election within 60 days of a president’s ouster. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is now considered the favorite candidate despite being the subject of various legal issues.
During the time leading up to the election, Han Duck-soo will keep the nation under a spell of political uncertainty and economic insecurity.
