Credited from: SCMP
South Korea's political landscape is undergoing significant changes as the Constitutional Court has formally removed Yoon Suk Yeol from office, paving the way for a snap presidential election scheduled on June 3, 2025. This decision follows a tumultuous period marked by Yoon's controversial declaration of martial law, which incited his impeachment and triggered the country's most profound political crisis in decades. The government officially set the election date on April 8, with the cabinet confirming the timing after consulting with the National Election Commission regarding necessary arrangements for the public holiday, as reported by Reuters.
Parliament had previously ousted Yoon on grounds of violating his constitutional duties when he temporarily enacted martial law on December 3, an action he claimed was necessary to combat perceived anti-state threats. This decree, however, lasted a mere six hours before being revoked following parliamentary pushback, resulting in a significant political backlash despite Yoon's assertions that no one was harmed during the ordeal, as reported by Channel News Asia.
The situation has led to widespread calls among political leaders for reevaluation of South Korea’s presidential structure, with Woo Won-shik, the National Assembly speaker, advocating for constitutional reform during a press conference. He noted that the current setup grants excessive power to the presidency, which he referred to as the "imperial presidency," contributing to severe political discord. Public sentiment is evidently leaning towards reform, with a Gallup Korea survey indicating that approximately 54% of participants favor changes to the presidential system, according to TRT Global.
As Yoon faces impending legal battles, including charges of insurrection related to the martial law declaration, the political void has intensified interest in the upcoming election. The main opposition party, led by Lee Jae-myung, is currently favored in polls but also grapples with its own legal tribulations. Careful scrutiny is placed on both the political maneuvering of the ousted president and the potential candidates for the impending election, raising questions about the stability of governance in South Korea during this transitional phase, as noted by South China Morning Post.
For more details on this unfolding political saga, visit the original articles on Reuters, Channel News Asia, and TRT Global.