Presidential election likely set for June 3
President Yoon Suk Yeol bows to his supporters after arriving outside the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, March 8, following his release from the Seoul Detention Center. Yonhap
If the Constitutional Court upholds President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment on Friday, an early presidential election is expected to take place by June 3, the legal deadline set by the Constitution.
According to Article 68, Clause 2 of the Constitution, a presidential election must be held within 60 days of the court's impeachment ruling. If Yoon is removed from office, the nation will head to the polls for a snap election. While presidential elections are typically held on a Wednesday, this one may not follow that tradition.
Under Article 34 of the Public Official Election Act, regular presidential elections are scheduled for the first Wednesday following 70 days before the end of the sitting president’s term. However, in the event of a vacancy, there is no specified weekday.
The acting president will choose an election date that falls within the 60-day window following the impeachment decision. This date must be publicly announced at least 50 days in advance, meaning acting president Han Duck-soo would have to make the announcement no later than April 14.
In South Korea’s only previous presidential by-election — the 19th election in 2017 — the vote was held on a Tuesday. After the Constitutional Court upheld Park Geun-hye’s impeachment on March 10, acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn convened a cabinet meeting five days later and designated the election date. The vote took place on May 9, the last possible day within the legal 60-day window.
Political observers expect this year’s vote could similarly fall on the final possible day, June 3, to allow sufficient time for candidate registration, campaigning and overseas voter preparation. For overseas voting, absentee voter registration must be completed at least 40 days before election day.
While a regular presidential election provides a 90-day registration period, snap elections allow a maximum of only 20 days. An earlier election date would reduce that window further, potentially disrupting overseas participation.
If the 23rd presidential election is held on June 3, candidate registration will take place from May 10 to 11. The official campaign period will run from May 12 to June 2, with overseas voting held May 20 to 24 and early voting on May 29 and 30.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.