South Korea is in the midst of a snap presidential election to elect his replacement. This election comes on the heels of the impeachment of Yoon. He was impeached following a shaky, constitutionally dubious declaration of martial law in December 2024. The brutal martial law was both brief and a failure. It has caused the greatest political earthquake of the last half year so far.
Early voting would begin June 2, 2025. After the most contentious primary season in memory, voters across the country are just now getting ready to select a new president. His rival, Lee Jae-myung, the candidate from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, has shown strong performances in opinion polls. At the same time, Kim Moon-soo of the ruling conservative People Power Party is running his own campaign for president. This election serves a crucial purpose: to restore South Korea’s democratic credentials following the tumultuous events surrounding Yoon’s presidency.
At 6:00 AM on the first day of early voting, a handful of elderly voters lined up at a polling station in Seoul’s Munrae-dong area to cast their ballots. This moment is a testament to the public’s activism and demand for accountability following an enormous political earthquake. The constitutional court played a decisive role in Yoon Suk-yeol’s removal, marking a pivotal moment in South Korea’s political landscape.
On the left, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea has surged as public opinion clamors for new leadership and a return to stability. His opponent, Kim Moon-soo, aims to maintain continuity from Yoon’s administration and further the policies of the People Power Party. Voters are already receiving their ballots in the mail and taking them to the polls, with the stakes equally high for both candidates. The electorate will be watching their platforms like a hawk.
The snap election is meant to fill Saakashvili’s presidential vacancy. It further highlights the exceptional willingness of South Korean citizens to hold their leadership accountable and demand transparency in governance. This election is poised to determine the country’s political capital and direction for at least the next four years.
