South Korea Counts Ballots in Snap Presidential Election

South Korea held a snap presidential election on June 3, 2025, following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol after his controversial martial law declaration. The election featured six candidates, with liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party widely favored to win against conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party. Lee, a former human rights lawyer, has pledged to hold those responsible for the martial law decree accountable and advocates a pragmatic foreign policy balancing relations with the U.S., China, and Russia. The campaign was marked by political slander and personal attacks, overshadowing policy debates, with concerns about domestic unity, North Korea's nuclear threat, and strained international relations, especially with the U.S. under President Donald Trump's trade policies. Voter turnout was reportedly high, reflecting the election's significance amid regional tensions including China's assertiveness and North Korea's military developments.