60-day countdown begins for new presidential election in South Korea

The Constitutional Court of South Korea has unanimously approved the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol from office due to the martial law he declared in December 2024. Prime Minister Han Duck Soo, who was recently reappointed as acting president after a previous impeachment attempt failed to be upheld by the court, issued a message of 'maintaining stability' following the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling against Yoon.

A NEW PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WILL BE HELD

Following the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling, Prime Minister Han was appointed as acting president. However, a new presidential election must be held in the country within 60 days.

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-Myung stands out as one of the strongest candidates. Lee, who lost the presidential election held in the country in 2022 by a small margin, had undergone surgery after being stabbed in the neck at an event he attended in 2024.

Another name expected to run as a candidate in the presidential race is Han Dong-hoon, the former leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). The 51-year-old Han had faced backlash within the party after calling on Yoon to resign.

According to reports in local media, other potential candidates for the election include Kim Moon-soo, Oh Se-hoon, Hong Joon-pyo, and Kim Dong-Yeon.

WHAT HAPPENED?

On the night of December 3, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on the grounds that the 'opposition was involved in anti-state activities,' but the decision was overturned in a parliamentary vote and subsequently ended with the approval of the Cabinet. Yoon had accused the opposition of 'preventing the government from functioning,' arguing that martial law was intended to 'eliminate pro-North Korean forces and protect the constitutional order of freedom.'

In an emergency session held at the National Assembly, the motion to lift the martial law decision was accepted with the votes of 190 lawmakers. Immediately afterward, the Assembly moved to remove Yoon from office. Following the vote at the Constitutional Court, the impeachment decision was upheld.

YOON SUK YEOL BECAME THE COUNTRY'S SECOND IMPEACHED PRESIDENT

The first South Korean president to be removed from office by the Constitutional Court was Park Geun Hye in 2017, due to charges of corruption and abuse of power. Park had faced accusations of granting a close friend the authority to illegally interfere in state affairs and accepting bribes from large corporations.

With his impeachment due to the declaration of martial law, Yoon Suk Yeol has become the second president in South Korea to be removed from office.

News Source: 12punto