1 / 7South Korea’s Snap Election: South Korea must hold a snap presidential election within 60 days following a major decision. On Friday, April 4, 2025, the Constitutional Court unanimously removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office. This ruling upheld his impeachment, which stemmed from his attempt to impose martial law on December 3 of the previous year, a move that sparked widespread controversy. (Reuters photo)
2 / 7Lee-Myung Leads: Lee Jae-Myung leads the Democratic Party and stands out as a key figure in the race. In the 2022 presidential election, he narrowly lost to Yoon Suk Yeol by less than 1% of the vote, the closest margin in South Korea’s history. Current polls from early 2025 show him leading other candidates by a wide gap, often by double-digit percentages. (Reuters photo)
3 / 7Han Dong-Hoon’s Stand: Han Dong-Hoon, once the leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), is a prominent conservative candidate. He strongly opposed Yoon’s martial law declaration, speaking out against it when it happened. The 51-year-old, who transitioned from a prosecutor to a politician, stepped down as PPP leader in late 2024 due to internal party disputes over his push for Yoon’s resignation. (Reuters photo)
4 / 7Kim Moon-Soo’s Rise: Kim Moon-Soo serves as South Korea’s labour minister and is gaining attention among conservatives. Recent surveys place him ahead of other right-leaning contenders, though he has stated he is not currently planning to run for president. At 73, the former politician has also questioned the arrest of Yoon and the court’s impeachment process. (Reuters photo)
5 / 7Oh Se-Hoon’s Vision: Oh Se-Hoon, the mayor of Seoul, has been in office for four terms and represents conservative views. He has called for South Korea to explore nuclear weapons as a defence strategy against North Korea, a stance he shared on Facebook in January 2025. This year, he introduced “KOGA (Korea Growth Again),” a plan to lift the nation’s economic growth rate from 2% in 2024 to 5%. (Reuters photo)
6 / 7Hong Joon-Pyo’s Bid: Hong Joon-Pyo, the mayor of Daegu, a city known for its conservative base, is preparing for the presidential race. A five-term lawmaker with the PPP and its earlier versions, he ran in 2017 but lost to Moon Jae-in. Despite his criticism of Han Dong-Hoon for opposing Yoon, Hong has voiced his intent to compete, even while urging the court to keep Yoon in office. (Reuters photo)
7 / 7Kim Dong-Yeon Emerges: Kim Dong-Yeon, the governor of Gyeonggi Province, is another name from the opposition gaining traction. In a January 2025 Reuters interview, he warned of challenging times ahead for South Korea and stressed a strong Seoul-Washington alliance, no matter who leads. He believes a Democratic Party candidate, like himself or Lee, should secure victory in the upcoming election. (Reuters photo)
