South Korea to hold early elections: Who will succeed Yoon Suk Yeol?
After months of political turmoil, South Korea will hold a snap presidential election on June 3rd to find a successor to Yoon Suk Yeol, the conservative leader who was impeached following a shocking martial law decree issued last December.
Recent opinion polls show liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung holding a significant lead. Lee is expected to win due to the public's frustration over Yoon's imposition of martial law.
Meanwhile, the leading conservative candidate, Kim Moon Soo, is striving for a comeback. However, observers believe that Kim's refusal to directly criticize Yoon has made it difficult for him to close the gap with his rival, Lee.
The winner of this election will be sworn in as president on June 4th, without the usual two-month transition period. The new South Korean leader will face many pressing tasks, including trying to heal deep divisions within the country following Yoon's actions, as well as focusing on U.S. President Donald Trump's "America First" policy and North Korea's nuclear program.
Who are the main candidates?
Lee Jae-myung, representing the liberal Democratic Party (DP), is currently the leading candidate.
Lee narrowly lost to Yoon in the 2022 election and led in two parliamentary votes to overturn martial law and impeach Yoon, before the Constitutional Court officially removed Yoon from office last April.
Lee's strong criticisms of conservatives and his calls for punishment of those involved in imposing martial law have raised concerns among the opposition that his victory could further polarize South Korean society.
Kim Moon Soo, a former Labor Minister under Yoon and a candidate of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), is facing a tough battle. Analysts believe his opposition to Yoon's impeachment and his reluctance to criticize the disgraced leader have cost him support from moderate voters.
Four other politicians also entered the race, including Lee Jun-seok of the conservative New Reform Party. Lee Jun-seok flatly rejected Kim Moon Soo's proposal to unite the candidates to avoid splitting the conservative vote.
The main issues of the election
During this election campaign, candidates made damaging statements, engaged in personal attacks, and even used sexually sensitive language without presenting a clear long-term vision for South Korea.
During a televised debate last week, Lee Jae-myung called Kim Moon Soo a "copy of Yoon Suk Yeol," while Kim accused Lee of being "a harbinger of a monstrous and authoritarian political system."
Unlike previous elections, North Korea's nuclear program did not emerge as a hot topic. This suggests that most candidates share the view that South Korea currently has few immediate means to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons.
Dealing with President Donald Trump's tough tariff policies has not been a major divisive issue among the candidates during the campaign.
Instead, Kim Moon Soo focused his attacks on Lee Jae-myung, portraying him as a dangerous leader capable of abusing power by placing the judiciary under his control and amending laws to prevent criminal trials involving himself.
For his part, Lee Jae-myung repeatedly questioned the connection between Kim and former President Yoon.
Challenges await the new leader.
The new South Korean president will have little time to negotiate with the U.S. before July 9, when President Trump's 90-day moratorium on global tariffs expires. This could potentially subject South Korean products to a 25% tariff. Although a U.S. federal court recently ruled that Trump lacked the authority to impose these tariffs, the White House has appealed, leaving the long-term outcome uncertain.
The outgoing South Korean administration is trying to finalize a comprehensive "package deal" with the U.S. by early July to mitigate the negative impact on the country's trade-dependent economy.
Lee Jae-myung accused government officials of rushing negotiations for short-term political gain and argued that focusing too much on an early agreement with Washington would not serve the national interest.
Conversely, Kim Moon Soo stated that he would prioritize a meeting with President Trump as soon as possible to resolve trade issues.
The next government in Seoul may also struggle to ease security tensions related to North Korea's advanced nuclear weapons program, which have been further complicated by Pyongyang's support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
Lee Jae-myung expressed his willingness to improve relations with North Korea but acknowledged that a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was unlikely anytime soon. He said he would support President Trump's efforts to resume nuclear diplomacy with Pyongyang.
Meanwhile, Kim Moon Soo pledged to strengthen South Korea's military capabilities and secure stronger security support from the U.S., suggesting he would maintain Yoon's hardline approach toward North Korea.
Can the new government heal the divisions?
The most pressing domestic issue facing the new president will be a deeply divided nation, where millions have taken to the streets for months to either support or oppose Yoon.
Former President Yoon once called Lee's party an "anti-state" force, accusing them of abusing their legislative majority to obstruct his agenda. He also supported unverified conspiracy theories that the liberal faction benefited from election fraud.
Lee Jae-myung delivered a message of unity and pledged not to seek political retaliation against his opponents if elected. However, his critics were skeptical, fearing that Lee might use investigations into Yoon's martial law decree as a tool to suppress his rivals.
Yoon's legal case is likely to cast a shadow over the first few months of the new government in Seoul, as the former president continues to face trial on serious rebellion charges, which could result in the death penalty or life imprisonment.
