2025 South Korean presidential election

An early presidential election was held in South Korea on 3 June 2025. It was originally set for 3 March 2027, but the election was pushed forward after the impeachment and removal of Yoon Suk Yeol. The date of 3 June was due to the requirement by the country's constitution for an election to be held within 60 days of when the presidency becomes vacant.

Since democratization and the creation of the Sixth Republic, this was the ninth presidential election, the second election after a presidential impeachment, and the first held in a different year than originally scheduled.

Democratic Party nominee and former Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung defeated ruling People Power Party nominee Kim Moon-soo, and Reform Party nominee Lee Jun-seok in a landslide victory. Voter turnout was 79.38%, the highest since the 1997 presidential election. 

## Election events
Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung has had legal troubles that may ban him from being elected president. Under the Public Official Elections act, candidates who receive more than 1 million won in fines or any prison sentence are banned from serving as a public official for 5 and 10 years respectively. In March 23, Seoul High Court reversed a decision made sentencing Lee to one year in prison with a two-year probation, allowing him to run for public office again. However, in May 2, a speedy 10-2 judgement from the Supreme Court reversed the lower court's decision, and sent the case back to Seoul High Court for a retrial. The initial date of retrial was set at May 15, but was later delayed to June 18, which is after the election date.

The two leading conservative candidates former Acting President Han Duck-soo and former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo are expected to merge their campaigns, but made little progress in doing so. Kim has said that the PPP and its chair has moved to unify campaigns without talking with him. A party spokesperson said that it's likely the party would move to remove Moon-soo of his candidacy if he did not agree to unify with Duck-soo. The PPP confirmed early on May 10 that they would cancel the nomination of Kim, and instead nominate Han at an emergency convention the same day. Later that day, members of the PPP rejected a resolution making Han the party's candidate following an all-party vote, resulting in Kim's nomination being reinstated. Han later apologized for the candidacy dispute and withdrew from the election.

## Candidates
### Democratic Party
#### Nominee
#### Withdrawn candidates
#### Primary results
The 21st Democratic Party presidential primary election was held on 27 April 2025.

### People Power Party
#### Nominee
#### Withdrawn candidates after the primaries
#### Withdrawn candidates during the primaries
#### Primary results
### New Reform Party
#### Nominee
### New Future Democratic Party
Lee Nak-yon hinted at a campaign for president at the National Convention for Constitutional Revision hosted by the New Future Democratic Party. On 30 April, Lee’s campaign advisor announced Lee’s candidacy registration, making his campaign official. However, on May 10, 2025, Lee decided against a run, and did not endorse a candidate.

#### Withdrawn candidates
### Rebuilding Korea Party
On 27 April 2025, the Rebuilding Korea Party announced their support for the Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung for the presidency. 

#### Withdrawn candidates
### Progressive Party
On 19 April, the Progressive Party selected Kim Jae-yeon as its presidential candidate. However, she withdrew on May 9, 2025 saying that she wanted to stop the PPP, and endorsed Lee Jae-myung.

#### Withdrawn candidates after the primaries
#### Withdrawn candidates during the primaries
### Democratic Labor Party
#### Nominee
### Independents
#### Declared candidates
#### Withdrawn candidates
* Han Duck-soo, Acting President of South Korea (2024; 2025) and Prime Minister of South Korea (2007–2008; 2022–2025) *(withdrew on 10 May 2025 to run as the People Power Party nominee)*

## Opinion polls
 curve for the next South Korean presidential election since 12 May with a 2-day average]]
 curve for the next South Korean presidential election before nominees were finalised with a 5-day average]]

## Results
## Notes
## References