Synopsis
The South Korean government has officially announced June 3 as the date for the next presidential election following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. This decision follows constitutional requirements and has implications for the political landscape of the nation.Key Takeaways
- The next presidential election in South Korea is set for June 3.
- This follows the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol.
- Candidates must register by May 11.
- The campaign period begins on May 12.
- A temporary public holiday has been declared for election day.
Seoul, April 8 (NationPress) The government of South Korea has officially announced that the next presidential election will take place on June 3, following the removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
This announcement was made during a Cabinet meeting, just four days after the Constitutional Court confirmed Yoon's impeachment due to his brief attempt to impose martial law in December.
According to the Constitution, a new election must be held within 60 days after a vacancy in the presidency occurs.
Additionally, the government has declared June 3 a temporary public holiday.
The National Election Commission commenced early candidate registrations immediately after the Constitutional Court's decision to dismiss Yoon last Friday.
Candidates must register by May 11, with the official campaign period beginning on May 12.
The law mandates that any public servant running for President must resign at least 30 days prior to the election, setting May 4 as the deadline.
The newly elected President will take office immediately after the election without a transition team, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.
When former President Park Geun-hye was removed from her position on March 10, 2017, the early election was held precisely 60 days later, on May 9.
Meanwhile, Yoon, who ascended from a top prosecutor to the presidency in a span of about three years, has become the second President in South Korea to be formally removed from office, following his controversial attempt at martial law that caused significant unrest and heightened political division.
With this ruling, Yoon, aged 64, joins former President Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in 2017 after the Constitutional Court validated her impeachment over a corruption scandal.
Prior to his presidency, Yoon began his career as a prosecutor in 1994, eventually leading an investigation into Park's corruption scandal that resulted in her removal and subsequent imprisonment.
In 2019, he was appointed as the nation's top prosecutor under President Moon Jae-in but had conflicts with the administration while overseeing investigations involving family members of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.
Faced with mounting pressure from the Moon administration, Yoon resigned from his position in 2021, shortly before entering politics and winning the presidential election in 2022 as the candidate of the conservative People Power Party.
Yoon's presidency was marked by tensions with a National Assembly largely controlled by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), during which he used his presidential veto power against 25 Bills passed by the Assembly.
Conflict with the DP escalated significantly in early December, when the opposition introduced motions to impeach the nation's top auditor and a senior prosecutor. On December 3, Yoon declared martial law, which ultimately led to his downfall.
