What to know about South Korea's snap election
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South Korea's presidential candidates Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party (DPK) and Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP) shake hands on May 23. Photo: Kim Hong-Ji /POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Some six months after South Korea was cast into a constitutional crisis by a stunning declaration of martial law, the nation will head to the polls Tuesday.
The big picture: The election in many ways will be a referendum on impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol and his party, as whoever wins will be tasked with mending a divided South Korea after months of turbulence.
- Polls will open Tuesday morning, and a winner could be declared by Wednesday, CNN reported, bringing the ongoing leadership vacuum to an end.
Here's what to know about South Korea's upcoming election:
Why is South Korea holding a snap election?
Catch up quick: Yoon was removed from office in April following a unanimous ruling from South Korea's constitutional court.
- His brief declaration of martial law last December sparked mass protests and saw troops deployed to the National Assembly.
- Members of the unicameral assembly swiftly blocked Yoon's order.
- In the aftermath of the controversial move that sent shockwaves through Seoul's politics and stunned global allies, members of parliament impeached Yoon.
- South Korea's Constitutional Court upheld the assembly's vote, triggering Tuesday's snap election.
Who are the candidates?
There are five candidates, but the two frontrunners are the conservative Kim Moon-soo and the Democratic Party's Lee Jae Myung.
Zoom in: Lee is polling ahead of Kim in the final stretch to election day, per data cited by Yonhap News Agency.
- Lee, a lawyer-turned-politician, led the opposition campaign to oust Yoon.
This is not Lee's first bid for the presidency. In 2022, Yoon narrowly defeated him, and he lost in a primary in 2017.
- His campaign is not without controversy, as he faces ongoing legal cases, including one over alleged election law violations.
- He survived an assassination attempt last year.
Kim, the People Power Party candidate and the former labor minister under Yoon, opposed parliament's impeachment of Yoon, though he said he disagreed with the martial law declaration, per the AP.
- The 73-year-old Kim was once a prominent labor activist before becoming a member of the National Assembly. He was imprisoned in the 1980s for leading pro-democracy protests.
- While Lee is the frontrunner, Kim has been closing the gap, the Washington Post reported.
- He's been scrutinized for his rhetoric about women and LGBTQ+ people.
Both candidates formerly served as governor of South Korea's most populous province.
What is the current state of South Korean politics?
With Yoon's chaos still fresh on voters' minds, both major candidates have vowed to seek a constitutional amendment to limit presidential powers, the Washington Post reported.
- Whoever emerges victorious will be tasked with reorienting an increasingly polarized nation and restoring faith in a shaken democracy.
Yes, but: There are other issues at play, one being the economy.
- South Korea has not been spared from the impact of President Trump's tariffs, with its shipments to the U.S. — and overall exports — falling in May.
- Trump has said South Korea should pay more to host U.S. troops, calling the U.S. ally a "money machine."
The election could also have major implications for foreign relations.
- Per the Times, both candidates recognize the need to deepen relationships with the U.S. But Lee also sees a need to improve ties with North Korea and China.
Go deeper: South Korea's impeached president arrested
