[Yoon Seok-yeol Impeachment] June 3 Presidential Election Likely... 60-Day Race Begins (Comprehensive)

Early Presidential Election Becomes an Urgent Issue for Political Circles
Ruling and Opposition Candidates Likely to Be Finalized by End of This Month
National Unity Emerges as a New Challenge

On the 4th, as the Constitutional Court dismissed President Yoon Seok-yeol, the political sphere began preparations for an early presidential election. According to Article 68 of the Constitution, if the president loses their qualification by a ruling, a successor must be elected within 60 days. Considering the schedule, June 3 is likely to be the date of the 21st presidential election.

Taking into account the candidate registration period, major parties must finalize their presidential candidates at least one month before the election day. Except for the Reform New Party, which has already selected its candidate, other parties are under urgent pressure. Unlike the opposition parties that had somewhat prepared for an early election, the ruling party cannot help but feel more urgency.

Major parties such as the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party will review the presidential primary rules over this weekend and then begin full-scale preparations for the primaries. If this proceeds, additional presidential candidates from both ruling and opposition parties are expected to be confirmed from the end of April.

Among the presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who holds the highest approval ratings in opinion polls, is expected to resign from his party leadership position to register as a primary candidate. Former Governor Kim Kyung-soo of Gyeongnam, Governor Kim Dong-yeon of Gyeonggi, and former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum are also mentioned as primary candidates. There is also interest in whether the open primary system advocated by some opposition factions will materialize.

Until now, the People Power Party could not openly prepare for an early election due to the ruling party's position, but the situation changed after President Yoon was impeached. Kim Moon-soo, former Minister of Employment and Labor; Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul; Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu; Han Dong-hoon, former People Power Party leader; former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min; lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo; and former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong are mentioned as presidential candidates.

Both ruling and opposition parties have expressed their intention to accept the Constitutional Court's decision and have begun preparations for the presidential primary. At a press conference that day, Kwon Young-se, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, stated, "We accept the Constitutional Court's decision with gravity and humility," adding, "The Constitutional Court's judgment is a final decision made within the constitutional order." Lee Jae-myung also said at a press conference, "The great people have restored the great democratic republic of Korea," and "I sincerely respect and thank the people who have protected Korea's democratic republic."

Han Duck-soo, acting president and prime minister, said in a public address, "We will uphold the will of the sovereign people and do our best to manage the next presidential election so that the next government can be launched without any setbacks in accordance with the Constitution and laws."

This presidential election also carries the task of resolving the severe divisions caused by President Yoon's impeachment and achieving national unity. Professor Lee Jun-han of Incheon National University said, "The political sphere must share the recognition that the past is the past and we should move forward to the future," adding, "Statements that provoke supporters can reach an extreme level during the election, so efforts should be made to refrain from 'YouTuber politics' and avoid provoking political strife." Professor Kim Cheol-hyun, special professor at Kyungil University, also said, "Those who opposed the impeachment will resist for a while, but ultimately, it is expected that dissatisfaction will be channeled through the early presidential election."