SOUTH KOREA will hold a snap presidential election on June 3 to choose Yoon Suk Yeol’s successor after he was ousted over his imposition of martial law in December.

Acting President Han Duck Soo announced the date yesterday, just four days after the Constitutional Court unanimously removed Mr Yoon from office.

Under South Korean law, a presidential election must take place within 60 days of a sitting president’s removal.

Mr Han said the country needs to “quickly heal from the wounds” and go “upward and forward.”

The next president will serve a full five-year term.

Political parties are expected to select their presidential candidates in the coming weeks.

The Democratic Party candidate is likely to be Lee Jae Myung, with no major challengers inside the party.

Mr Lee narrowly lost the 2022 election to Mr Yoon.

About 10 politicians from the People Power Party, which Mr Yoon led, are expected to seek the nomination, including Labour Minister Kim Moon Soo, who left his post yesterday to launch his campaign.

Veteran politician Ahn Cheol Soo, who ran in the last three presidential elections, also announced his candidacy, describing himself as “a cleaner candidate than anyone else.”

The ruling party remains deeply divided in the wake of Mr Yoon’s impeachment.

Some reformist members openly criticised the former president and voted to remove him from office, triggering infighting with the party’s old guard.

But Mr Yoon still retains a loyal base of supporters who have continued to stage mass rallies in his defence.

He is also facing criminal charges of insurrection, with proceedings due to begin in a criminal court.