South Korea Presidential Election (2025)

2025 South Korea Presidential Election is an extraordinary election held under constitutional obligation to appoint a new president following the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Following the Constitutional Court’s confirmation of the impeachment decision on 4 April 2025, the election date was officially set for 3 June 2025, within the constitutional 60-day deadline. The election process was conducted in accordance with existing legal regulations and under the supervision of the National Election Commission (NEC). In the election results, Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung received a majority of votes and was elected president, taking the oath of office on 4 June 2025.

_{Early voting for the presidential election in Türkiye, 29 May 2025 - (Anadolu Ajansı)}

The 2025 South Korea Presidential Election was organized to appoint a new president following the Constitutional Court’s decision to remove President Yoon Suk Yeol. According to the Constitution, a new presidential election must be held within 60 days of a president’s removal. Accordingly, the election date was officially announced as 3 June 2025.

On 3 December 2024, then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared a state of emergency citing “anti-state activities” and threats linked to North Korea. This decision was subsequently annulled by a vote in the National Assembly later that month and formally revoked by a Cabinet decision.

On 14 December 2024, the National Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Yoon. On 4 April 2025, the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment decision and officially declared the end of Yoon’s presidency.

Following Yoon Suk Yeol’s removal, South Korea underwent a series of interim presidencies. Initially, Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok was appointed as acting president. This role was soon assumed by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. However, Han was also removed from office, and Education Minister Lee Ju-ho took over as acting president. Lee Ju-ho assumed the role one month before the election and held it until election day.

Throughout the interim governance period, election preparations proceeded in full compliance with the constitutional framework. In accordance with the election schedule, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Election Commission (NEC) implemented various technical and administrative measures to ensure the security of voting procedures. As part of these efforts, surveillance cameras were installed at polling stations to safeguard ballot integrity, and police escorts were provided during ballot transportation.

The election date was set following the Constitutional Court’s announcement of the removal decision on 4 April 2025 and officially declared by the National Election Commission (NEC) as 3 June 2025. The campaign period began on 12 May 2025. Under South Korean election law, the campaign period is deliberately kept short to limit campaign expenditures.

The election is conducted under a single-round majority system, in which the candidate receiving the most votes is directly elected president. The winning candidate serves a five-year term and is ineligible for re-election.

_{Early voting for the presidential election in Türkiye began on May 29, 2025 - (Anadolu Agency)}

Voting took place on 3 June 2025 at polling centers established nationwide. Voting hours were from 06:00 to 18:00. Voters were required to present a valid identification document. Acceptable forms of identification included the national ID card, passport, driver’s license, or any official photo ID issued by a government authority. Mobile ID applications were also accepted, but screenshots of digital IDs were not considered valid.

After voting concluded, ballots were first sorted by automated classification machines and then manually counted by election officials. To ensure election security, rooms storing early votes were placed under camera surveillance and sealed at all entry points.

A total of six candidates competed in the 2025 South Korea Presidential Election. All candidates were male, marking the first election since 2007 without any female candidates. Lee Jae-myung was nominated by the Democratic Party (DP). According to public opinion polls conducted by Gallup Korea, shortly before the election Lee’s support stood at 49.2 percent.

_{A photograph of Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung voting at a polling station, 29 May 2025 - (Anadolu Ajansı)}

Kim Moon-soo was the candidate of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). According to the same polls, Kim ranked second with 36.8 percent support. At 73 years old, Kim was the oldest candidate in the race. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the New Reform Party (NRP), also ran for office. Public opinion surveys placed his support between 10 and 11 percent. At 40 years old, Lee Jun-seok was the youngest candidate.

The total number of registered voters for the 2025 South Korea Presidential Election was announced as 44,390,000. Women constituted 50.5 percent of the electorate. According to age distribution data, voters aged 60 and above accounted for approximately one-third of the total electorate. Voters in their 20s and 30s made up 28 percent of the electorate.

South Korean citizens residing abroad were also included in the electoral process. According to NEC data, a total of 205,268 voters cast ballots across 118 countries between 20 and 25 May 2025.

The early voting period for the 2025 South Korea Presidential Election was held on 29 and 30 May 2025. According to the National Election Commission (NEC), a total of 3,568 early voting centers were established nationwide.

_{Early voting for the presidential election in Türkiye begins on May 29, 2025 - (Anadolu Agency)}

Voting at early centers took place daily from 06:00 to 18:00. Voters were not restricted to their residential districts and could vote at the nearest polling center regardless of location. No prior registration was required. The NEC confirmed that rooms storing early votes were sealed at all entry points and monitored by surveillance cameras. Ballots were kept under security until election day.

High voter turnout was recorded during the early voting period. According to the NEC, 39.3 percent of all registered voters participated in early voting over the two-day period.

The early voting turnout rate increased compared to the previous presidential election in 2022, when early voters accounted for 36.9 percent of the electorate.

The highest participation in early voting was observed in major metropolitan areas, particularly Seoul and its surrounding regions. Areas such as Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon saw particularly high volumes of voters at early voting centers. The geographic distribution of early voting centers was determined by the NEC based on voter density. The voting process was expected to be completed with the main election on 3 June 2025.

The 2025 South Korean Presidential Election was an extraordinary electoral process convened within a constitutional framework following the removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office. After the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment decision on April 4, 2025, the election date was officially set for June 3, 2025, in accordance with the constitutional requirement that such an election be held within 60 days. The election was organized under the oversight of the National Election Commission (NEC) and in full compliance with the applicable legal procedures in force.

_{Early voting for the presidential election in South Korea, May 29, 2025 – (Anadolu Agency)}

The 2025 South Korean Presidential Election was held to appoint a new head of state following the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol, as mandated by the Constitutional Court. In accordance with the Constitution, a presidential election must be conducted within 60 days after a president is impeached. Within this legal framework, the election was scheduled for June 3, 2025.

On December 3, 2024, then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, citing threats posed by “anti-state activities” and North Korean infiltration. This measure was later overturned through a vote in the National Assembly and formally revoked by a decision of the Cabinet within the same month.

On December 14, 2024, the National Assembly initiated impeachment proceedings against Yoon. The Constitutional Court ratified the impeachment on April 4, 2025, officially terminating Yoon’s presidency.

Following the dismissal of Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea underwent a series of interim presidencies. The first acting president was Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok. His brief tenure was succeeded by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was subsequently also removed from office. In his place, Education Minister Lee Ju-ho assumed the role of acting president. Lee took office one month before the election and remained in position through election day.

Throughout this transitional period, preparations for the election were carried out in full compliance with the constitutional framework. According to the electoral calendar, the Ministry of the Interior and the National Election Commission (NEC) implemented a number of technical and administrative measures to ensure the security of the voting process. These included CCTV surveillance of ballot storage areas and police escorts during the transportation of ballot boxes.

The date for the 2025 presidential election was announced following the Constitutional Court’s decision on April 4, 2025, to uphold the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. The National Election Commission (NEC) subsequently declared June 3, 2025, as the official election day. The campaign period commenced on May 12, 2025. In accordance with South Korean electoral law, the campaign duration is deliberately kept brief as a measure to limit election-related expenditures.

The election is conducted under a single-round plurality system, in which the candidate receiving the highest number of votes is declared the winner and assumes the presidency. The elected president serves a single five-year term and is constitutionally barred from seeking a second term.

_{Early voting for the presidential election in South Korea, May 29, 2025 – (Anadolu Agency)}

Voting is scheduled to take place across the country on June 3, 2025. Polling stations will operate from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. To cast a vote, eligible citizens must present a valid form of identification. Acceptable forms include a national ID card, passport, driver’s license, or any other government-issued photo ID. Mobile identification is also accepted, provided it is verified through an official application on-site; screenshots of ID documents are not considered valid.

After voting concludes, ballot envelopes will first be sorted using automated classification machines, followed by manual counting conducted by election officials. To ensure electoral security, the storage rooms containing early ballots have been placed under CCTV surveillance, and entry points have been sealed.

A total of six candidates contested the 2025 South Korean Presidential Election. All candidates were male, marking the first presidential election without a female contender since 2007. Lee Jae-myung represented the Democratic Party (DP). According to public opinion polls released by Gallup Korea shortly before the election, Lee had garnered 49.2% of public support.

_{A photo of Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung taken after casting his ballot at a polling station, May 29, 2025 – (Anadolu Agency)}

Kim Moon-soo stood as the candidate of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). In the same survey, Kim ranked second with a support rate of 36.8%. At 73 years of age, Kim was the oldest candidate in the race. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the New Reform Party (NRP), also ran in the election. His support in opinion polls hovered between 10% and 11%. At age 40, Lee Jun-seok was the youngest among the candidates.

The total number of registered voters for the 2025 South Korean presidential election was reported to be 44.39 million. Of these, women accounted for 50.5% of the electorate. Based on national demographic data, voters aged 60 and above comprised approximately one-third of the total electorate, while those in their twenties and thirties represented 28%.

South Korean nationals residing abroad also participated in the election. According to data from the National Election Commission (NEC), a total of 205,268 overseas voters cast their ballots between May 20 and 25, 2025, across 118 countries.

As part of the 2025 South Korean Presidential Election, early voting was conducted on May 29 and 30, 2025. According to the National Election Commission (NEC), a total of 3,568 early voting centers were established across the country.

_{Early voting for the presidential election in South Korea, May 29, 2025 – (Anadolu Agency)}

Polling was open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on both days. Voters were allowed to cast their ballots at any polling station regardless of their registered residence, without the need for prior registration. The NEC stated that rooms used to store early ballots were sealed and placed under video surveillance. These ballots were kept under security until election day. The early voting period saw a notably high turnout. According to the NEC, 39.3% of all eligible voters participated in the two-day early voting period.

This turnout represented an increase compared to the previous presidential election held in 2022, during which 36.9% of the electorate voted early. The highest levels of participation in early voting were recorded in major urban areas, particularly in and around Seoul. Voter activity was especially concentrated in the capital city of Seoul, as well as in Gyeonggi Province and Incheon. The geographical distribution of early polling stations in these areas was organized by the NEC based on population density. The early voting process is expected to conclude with the general election held on June 3, 2025.

2025 South Korean Presidential Election began at 06.00 local time on Tuesday 3 June 2025 and concluded at 18.00. Voting was conducted continuously across polling stations established nationwide. According to data from the National Election Commission, approximately 4.09 million voters cast their ballots within the first three hours, representing 9.2 percent of the total electorate. During the early voting period, 15.4 million voters participated, marking the highest turnout rate since the system was introduced in 2014.

According to exit polls, the Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung led the election with 50.6 percent of the votes. The incumbent People’s Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo received 39.4 percent. Other candidates on the ballot included Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party, Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Workers Party, and independent candidate Song Jin-ho. Vote counting was expected to continue until midnight; official results were to be announced by the National Election Commission on the morning of 4 June.

On 4 June 2025, the National Election Commission announced that Lee Jae-myung had been elected the new President of South Korea with 49.42 percent of the vote. Kim Moon-soo’s vote share was reported at 41.15 percent. As the election was mandated by constitutional necessity to replace the removed President Yoon Suk Yeol, the newly elected president assumed office immediately. Lee assumed all powers from Lee Ju-ho, who had been serving as Acting President in his capacity as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education.

 _{Lee Jae-myung, eşi ve parti üyeleri ile birlikte yemin töreninde, 4 Haziran 2025 - Anadolu Ajansı}

On the same day, Lee Jae-myung officially commenced his duties following the swearing-in ceremony held at the National Assembly. Prior to the ceremony, he visited the Seoul National Cemetery and observed a moment of silence in honor of Korean soldiers who lost their lives. The swearing-in was attended by senior representatives of the legislative, executive and judicial branches, members of parliament, and cabinet members; foreign mission representatives were not invited.

In his first address after the oath, Lee outlined his goals of reducing political polarization, revitalizing economic growth, and encouraging investment in advanced technologies. On foreign policy, he pledged a pragmatic approach grounded in national interests, affirmed continued commitment to the alliance with the United States, and stated that trilateral cooperation with Japan would be deepened. Despite ongoing tensions with North Korea, he emphasized that channels of dialogue for lasting peace would remain open and signaled intent to pursue communication and cooperation with the Pyongyang regime.

Among his first executive actions as President, Lee held a security briefing with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Kim Myung-soo and issued directives for the armed forces to remain prepared.