South Korea’s political landscape is rapidly shifting as both major parties prepare for the upcoming presidential election. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office on Friday, triggering the need for a successor to be elected within 60 days. This tight timeline means South Korea’s political parties must quickly finalize their candidates and organize their campaigns.
The acting president, Han Duck-soo, will announce the election date during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Given the proximity to various holidays, many expect the election to occur around June 3.
In addition to the presidential race, constitutional reform is gaining attention. Woo Won-shik, the Speaker of the National Assembly, proposed amending the Constitution during the presidential election. He suggested that the election and the reform should happen on the same day.
Currently, the South Korean Constitution limits presidents to a single five-year term, without reelection. Woo’s proposal would allow presidents to serve a four-year term and run for a second term. He stressed that delaying this change would hinder progress on the country’s power structure.
The People Power Party, which lost its ruling status with Yoon’s removal, met on Sunday to discuss the upcoming election. Unlike the Democratic Party of Korea, the People Power Party does not yet have a leading presidential candidate. The Democratic Party’s leader, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, holds a significant advantage over other potential nominees in his party.
The Democratic Party is also pushing for Yoon’s expulsion from the People Power Party. Rep. Kim Yun-duck, the party’s secretary-general, argued that the People Power Party should not continue its presidential campaign unless it takes responsibility for the distress caused by the former president.
Meanwhile, smaller liberal parties are advocating for a coalition to challenge the People Power Party. The Rebuilding Korea Party, founded by imprisoned former justice minister Cho Kuk, called for an open primary among all liberal candidates. They believe this would ensure a victory against the conservative bloc.
As the election draws closer, South Korea’s political parties are under pressure to resolve internal conflicts and prepare for the race ahead.