Seoul: The South Korean government has formally designated June 3 as the date of the next presidential election, following the ouster of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. The designation was made at a Cabinet meeting four days after the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of Yoon over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.
Under the Constitution, the country is required to hold a new election within 60 days after a vacancy arises in the presidency. The government also designated June 3 as a temporary public holiday. The National Election Commission began early candidate registration shortly after the Constitutional Court dismissed Yoon last week.
Candidates will be required to register by May 11 and the official campaign period will kick off on May 12. The law also requires a public servant running for President to resign at least 30 days before an election, making May 4 the deadline. The new President will assume office immediately after the election without a transition team, IANS reported, citing Yonhap news agency.
Yoon, who dramatically rose from a top prosecutor to the presidency in about three years, became the nation's second President to be formally removed from office, with his surprise martial law bid rattling the nation for months and deepening political polarisation.
Yoon's term was riddled with conflict with an uncooperative National Assembly dominated by the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP). Yoon exercised his presidential veto power against 25 Bills passed by the National Assembly.
