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)
Legal Basis of the Election
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.
Transitional Governance Period
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.
Electoral Schedule and Legal Framework
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.
Candidates and Political Parties
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.
Voter Profile and Demographic Data
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.
Early Voting Process
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.
