The 2025 South Korean snap election, triggered by a presidential impeachment, reshapes national politics, highlighting key candidates, policies, and future challenges.
I. Introduction: The Unprecedented 2025 Snap Election
In 2025, South Korea faced an extraordinary snap presidential election, deviating from its regular electoral cycle. This pivotal moment has fundamentally reshaped the nation's political landscape, marking a crucial turning point. Beyond a mere transfer of power, this election presented an opportunity to seek new leadership and direction in response to the complex domestic and international challenges facing South Korea.
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the 2025 snap presidential election. We will delve into the unique circumstances that triggered the election, the constitutional procedures involved, and the subsequent electoral schedule and methods. Furthermore, we will examine the key candidates and their core policy platforms across various domains, including economy, society, foreign policy, and security. Recent polling data, candidate support bases, and political ideologies will also be analyzed to understand voter sentiment. Finally, we will explore the potential impact of this election on South Korea's economy, social cohesion, and international relations, highlighting the complex domestic and global challenges the new administration will confront.
II. The Genesis of the 2025 Snap Election
Presidential Impeachment and Resulting Vacancy (Constitutional Basis and Process): The 2025 presidential election was triggered by the impeachment and subsequent removal of President Yoon Suk-yeol. Originally, President Yoon's term was set to expire on March 3, 2027. However, the unprecedented declaration of martial law in December 2024 sparked political upheaval. This controversial move led to the National Assembly's passage of an impeachment motion. Subsequently, the Constitutional Court unanimously upheld the impeachment, resulting in the presidential vacancy.
Article 68, Section 2 of the South Korean Constitution mandates that "when the presidency becomes vacant or the president-elect dies or loses qualification due to a ruling or other reasons, a successor shall be elected within 60 days." In accordance with this constitutional provision, a snap election was held within 60 days of the presidential vacancy. Currently, Acting President Lee Joo-ho is fulfilling presidential duties.
Characteristics and Political Implications of the Snap Election: Snap elections differ fundamentally from regular elections. Typically triggered by political crises or unforeseen events, they impose time constraints on political parties, candidates, and voters. In the 2025 snap election, parties had to quickly nominate candidates and devise strategies, while candidates had to rapidly formulate platforms and communicate with voters.
These time constraints can hinder thorough policy review and candidate vetting, increasing uncertainty and information asymmetry. Snap elections often occur against a backdrop of national crises or social upheavals, leading to a "single-issue" focus among voters. This can simplify campaign messages and heighten political tensions.
One political science professor noted that while the impeachment and snap election could be seen as a national calamity, the fact that the process occurred is a sign of a healthy democracy. However, there is a strong call for "ending extremist politics" and "national unity," requiring a pragmatic approach that transcends ideology and factionalism. This election is a crucial test of South Korea's democratic maturity and future direction.
III. Election Schedule and Procedures
Election Date and Key Schedule: The 21st South Korean presidential election was held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. This date, confirmed by the State Council on April 8, 2025, marked the first presidential election in South Korean history to be held in June, earning the nickname "Rose Election."
Key election dates included:
Starting April 4, 2025: Preliminary candidate registration, restrictions on legislative activity reports and local government election influence.
May 11, 2025: Finalization of absentee and at-sea voter lists.
May 12, 2025: Start of the official campaign period, commencement of televised debates and discussions (until June 2).
By May 14, 2025: Submission of election posters.
By May 17, 2025: Posting of election posters, submission of campaign booklets.
May 29 - 30, 2025: Early voting period.
By May 29, 2025: Announcement of polling places.
June 3, 2025: Election Day (6 AM - 8 PM KST), ballot counting (immediately after polls close).
By June 23, 2025: Filing of election expense reimbursement claims.
By July 14, 2025: Submission of political funds accounting reports.
By August 12, 2025: Election expense reimbursement.
Voting and Ballot Counting Procedures: Voting took place through both Election Day voting and early voting.
Election Day Voting: Voters lined up, presented ID for verification, signed or stamped the ballot roster, received a ballot, marked their choice in the voting booth, folded the ballot, and placed it in the ballot box. Photography within the polling place or declaring one's vote was prohibited.
Early Voting: Distinguished between in-precinct and out-of-precinct voters. After ID verification and signing, voters received a ballot. Out-of-precinct voters also received a return envelope. Ballots were marked, folded, and out-of-precinct ballots were sealed in the envelope before being placed in the ballot box.
Ballot counting commenced immediately after the polls closed at 8 PM KST on June 3rd nationwide. The final winner was announced through the official count by the National Election Commission. Considering past elections, the likely winner's outline could emerge at different times depending on the vote counting progress.
Candidate Registration and Eligibility: Suffrage was granted to South Korean citizens aged 18 and older, with eligibility to run extended to those born on or before June 3, 1985. However, individuals legally deemed incompetent, those with unexpired periods after election law violations, or those with uncompleted or ineffective sentences of imprisonment or higher were ineligible.
Candidate registration methods included:
Party Nomination: Candidates affiliated with a political party required their party's nomination.
Independent Nomination: Required endorsements from 500 or more eligible voters registered in each of at least five different metropolitan cities or provinces, totaling between 2,500 and 5,000 endorsements.
A deposit of 300 million KRW was required. This deposit could be used to cover fines or costs related to illegal structures. It was fully refunded if the candidate was elected or received at least 15% of valid votes. Half was refunded for 10-15% of votes, and a full refund was given in case of the candidate's death.
Determination of the Winner: The South Korean Constitution stipulates that the President is elected by universal, equal, direct, and secret ballot. The winner is determined as follows:
Multiple Candidates: The candidate with the highest number of valid votes wins.
Tie for Highest Vote: The National Assembly elects the winner through an open meeting with a majority of incumbent members present.
Single Candidate: If only one candidate is registered by the deadline, they must receive at least one-third of the total eligible votes to be elected.
IV. Analysis of Key Candidates and Platforms
The 21st presidential election featured six candidates: Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party of Korea), Kim Moon-soo (People Power Party), Lee Jun-seok (Reform Party), Kwon Young-guk (Labor Party), Hwang Kyo-ahn (Independent), and Song Jin-ho (Independent). Koo Ju-wa (Liberty Unification Party), initially a candidate (No. 6), withdrew during the campaign period.
Candidate Profiles and Key Pledges:
Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party of Korea):
Profile: Born in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province in 1963, Lee Jae-myung is a lawyer-turned-politician. He served as the Mayor of Seongnam City, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, and leader of the Democratic Party. He is currently a member of the National Assembly and the Democratic Party's presidential nominee. Overcoming a difficult childhood and a work-related injury that led to a military service exemption, he graduated with honors from Chung-Ang University's law department after passing the high school equivalency exam.
Key Pledges: Under the slogan "The Real Republic of Korea Starts Now," Lee Jae-myung presented comprehensive pledges across ten key areas: Economy & Industry, Politics & Justice, Diplomacy & Trade, Society & Administration & Healthcare, Balanced National Development, Labor & Welfare, Overcoming Low Birth Rate & Aging, and Environment.
Economy & Industry: Focus on nurturing new industries like AI (increased AI budget, AI highway), fostering K-content and K-defense, large-scale investment in national strategic industries (national fund), stable R&D budget expansion, venture investment market development, and transforming agriculture into a future-oriented industry. Aiming for South Korea to be a global economic leader.
Politics & Justice: Strengthening democratic control over presidential martial law powers, eradicating political retaliation, enhancing direct democracy (introduction of a national recall system for lawmakers), completing prosecution and judicial reforms (separation of investigation and prosecution, prosecutor disciplinary system), anti-corruption reforms, aligning terms of major public institution heads with the presidential term. Aiming for a strong democratic nation.
Household & Small Businesses: Debt restructuring for COVID-19 policy loan recipients, support for small businesses affected by the December 12th martial law, easing financial and management burdens for small businesses, expanding local currency vouchers, building a fair and sustainable small business economy, introducing platform intermediary fee caps, establishing a debtor-centric protection system, expanding high-quality public rental housing, addressing jeonse (lump-sum deposit lease) fraud, improving stock market supply and demand, and strongly eradicating technology theft.
Foreign Policy & Trade: Building robust economic security (active participation in G20 and G7, hosting the 2025 Gyeongju APEC summit), expanding and diversifying diplomatic reach (New Asia Strategy, Global South cooperation), responding to changes in the trade environment, gradually reducing North Korea's nuclear threat, easing military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and securing comprehensive deterrence capabilities based on a strong ROK-US alliance. Pursuing a pragmatic foreign and security powerhouse.
National Life and Safety: Preventing heinous crimes, punishing financial crimes affecting livelihoods, rapid and efficient response to social disasters (enacting the Life Safety Basic Law), preventing traffic accidents, creating a safe construction environment, strengthening local, essential, and public healthcare, and implementing healthcare reforms with public participation. Aiming for a safe society.
Balanced National Development: Completing the Sejong administrative capital (National Assembly Sejong branch, presidential Sejong office), relocating public institutions to regional areas, establishing a balanced development framework centered on "5 poles and 3 special zones," strengthening local autonomy, preventing regional decline, fostering regional strategic industries, easing the hierarchy of universities in the Seoul metropolitan area, and mandating the issuance of local currency vouchers.
Respect for Labor and Guarantee of Rights: Guaranteeing workplace rights for all workers including the self-employed, special employment workers, and platform workers, prohibiting comprehensive wage systems, establishing benchmarks for equal pay for equal work, activating industry, sector, and regional collective bargaining agreements, realizing workplace democracy, expanding the industrial accident insurance system, establishing an occupational safety and health system, introducing and expanding a 4.5-day work week, and improving the treatment of public officials.
Stable Livelihoods and a Prosperous Nation for All: Building a life-cycle income security system (raising child benefits up to age 18, expanding parental leave, resolving blind spots in the national pension system), promoting a basic care society, expanding earned income tax credits and child tax credits, reducing essential living expenses, reducing national transportation costs, reducing private education costs through national responsibility for public education, and introducing youth, national, and senior passes.
Overcoming the Low Birth Rate and Aging Crisis: Innovating low birth rate countermeasures and expanding support for child-rearing (proportional tax deductions based on the number of children, Our Children Independence Fund), strengthening support for childcare, education, and work-life balance for a child-friendly nation, 24-hour care for individuals with developmental disabilities, establishing a comprehensive support system for an aging society, and building a sustainable old-age income security system.
Active Response to the Climate Crisis: Establishing greenhouse gas reduction targets commensurate with South Korea's responsibility as a developed nation, accelerating the energy transition centered on renewable energy, building an energy highway, carbon-neutral industrial transition, plastic reduction roadmap, restoring biodiversity on the Korean Peninsula, and renaturalizing the four major rivers. Presenting environmental policies for future generations.
Support Base and Political Ideology: Lee Jae-myung espouses liberalism and social liberalism, with the guiding principles of "ending the rebellion," "national victory," and "overwhelming regime change." He emphasizes realizing a "nation of people's sovereignty" and "a world where everyone prospers together," aiming for "national interest-centered pragmatic diplomacy" and "national unity" beyond ideology and factionalism. He has also mentioned a pro-business growth approach through a pragmatic lens, stating, "A good cat catches mice, whether it's black or white, as long as it catches them well."
Kim Moon-soo (People Power Party):
Profile: Born in Yeongcheon, North Gyeongsang Province in 1951, Kim Moon-soo is a former labor activist who became a politician. He attended Seoul National University but was expelled and imprisoned twice for his involvement in the democracy movement. He dedicated himself to labor activism, including working undercover in the Guro Industrial Complex. He later served as a member of the National Assembly (15th, 16th, 18th terms) and as the 4th and 5th popularly elected Governor of Gyeonggi Province. After serving as the Minister of Employment and Labor, he joined the People Power Party and was nominated as their presidential candidate on May 3, 2025.
Key Pledges: Under the slogan "A New South Korea," Kim Moon-soo's pledges covered ten key areas: Economic Revitalization, Leap to AI & Energy Powerhouse, Youth Support, Balanced National Development, Middle-Class Asset Growth, Lifelong Welfare, Small Business Support, Disaster Response, Government Reform, and National Security.
Growth Led by Freedom, A Business-Friendly Nation: Economic transformation through the three major innovations of capital, technology, and labor; maximizing private and corporate autonomy; deregulation; tax system overhaul; investment promotion; job creation; strengthening global competitiveness; and fostering new industries and technologies. Specifically pledged to hold a US-ROK summit immediately upon taking office and pursue tariff package negotiations, regularize presidential-led export promotion meetings, improve the 52-hour work week (based on labor-management agreement), and lower the top corporate and inheritance tax rates.
Leap to Top 3 AI & Energy Powerhouse: Intensive investment in the entire AI cycle (training 200,000 AI youth talents, supporting AI unicorn companies, establishing AI convergence centers), AI regulatory innovation, realizing an energy powerhouse by expanding the proportion of nuclear power (pursuing 6 large nuclear reactors, commercializing Korean-style SMRs), improving the treatment and status of scientists and engineers (restoring the retirement age to 65, raising standard salaries), and fostering research-oriented hubs.
A Nation Where Youth Thrives, A Republic Where the Future Opens: Second national pension reform for youth's peace of mind, creating good jobs (incentivizing large companies' new recruitment, AI youth startup village), a youth era without housing worries (supply of 3·3·3 youth housing, special loans for newborns), easing the marriage burden for newlyweds, reducing the burden on child-rearing couples, supporting youth leap, introducing a military service point system and a female voluntary service system.
A Nation Connected by GTX, A Republic Growing Together: Expanding the GTX to five major metropolitan areas nationwide (building a nationwide express railway network), expanding metropolitan and urban railways, creating super-regional megacities, introducing future high-tech industry-based mega-free zones, expanding the devolution of central government authority and resources to local governments (complete relocation of the National Assembly, relocation of the second presidential office). Promoting balanced national development.
Middle-Class Asset Growth, A Land of Opportunity: Middle-class tax cuts (inflation-linked comprehensive income tax, raising basic deductions), supporting middle-class asset formation (tax benefits for long-term stock holders, enactment of the Digital Asset Promotion Basic Law, expanding ISA tax benefits), inheritance tax reform (abolishing inheritance tax between spouses, lowering the top rate), easing the burden of living costs (K-One Pass, tax exemption for infant and toddler products), and real estate system reform (regulatory-exempt Korean-style White Zones, comprehensive real estate tax reform, abolishing capital gains heavy taxation, rapid promotion of redevelopment and reconstruction).
A Nation Good for Raising Children, Reliable Lifelong Welfare: Expanding housing support for youth and newlyweds, expanding support from pregnancy to childcare, supporting our children's asset formation, introducing the Stepping Stone Income, expanding national support for vaccinations, strengthening a balanced system of care and independence for the elderly, strengthening support for people with disabilities throughout their lives, and restoring the medical safety net and restructuring the rational medical system.
Small Businesses, A Popular Economy Where Livelihoods Thrive: Establishing a presidential direct "Small Business and Self-Employed Support Group," implementing a three-part emergency support package for small businesses, expanding financial support for the working class and small businesses, reducing burdens such as electricity bills, expanding the scope of the Commercial Building Lease Protection Act, strengthening the competitiveness of the platform market, revitalizing domestic demand (credit card cashback), promoting local consumption and revitalizing traditional markets.
A Nation Strong Against Disasters, A Republic Protecting the People: Shifting from "post-disaster recovery" to "pre-disaster preparedness," strengthening the on-site response capabilities of specialized disaster organizations, reorganizing the Ministry of Environment into the Ministry of Climate and Environment, strengthening government-local government-private sector information sharing platforms, completely overhauling the national aviation construction and operation system, preventing underground safety accidents, and rapidly promoting river tributary maintenance projects. Strengthening response capabilities to complex and large-scale disasters.
A Government Severing Privileges, A Nation Building Trust: Dispatching and appointing auditors belonging to the Board of Audit and Inspection, abolishing lawmakers' immunity from arrest, allowing the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit of the National Election Commission, abolishing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), enacting a judicial obstruction crime, returning the anti-espionage investigation authority to the National Intelligence Service, and revising the Anti-Espionage Act. Promoting reform of the political, judicial, and election management systems.
The Power to Overcome North Korean Nukes, Strong National Security: Strengthening the execution of nuclear extended deterrence based on the ROK-US alliance, strengthening the Korean-style three-axis system, strengthening nuclear potential, in case of increased North Korean nuclear threats, pursuing ROK-US consultations on "tactical nuclear redeployment" or "NATO-style nuclear sharing," promoting the development of nuclear-powered submarines, fostering 10,000 white hat hackers, nurturing "Global K-Defense," introducing an AI-based manned-unmanned integrated combat system, and improving military service conditions.
Support Base and Political Ideology: Kim Moon-soo advocates conservatism with the slogan "A New South Korea, Fair and Square Kim Moon-soo." His motto is "Purity leads to eternal life, corruption leads to immediate death," emphasizing his integrity while targeting Lee Jae-myung's alleged land development scandals. Once a legendary figure in the labor movement, he gradually shifted towards conservative politics, facing criticism as a "turncoat" and experiencing conflicts with progressive figures. The People Power Party aims for a "land of opportunity, a fair Republic of Korea" and pursues peaceful reunification based on liberal democracy.
Lee Jun-seok (Reform Party):
Profile: Born in Seoul in 1985, Lee Jun-seok is an entrepreneur and politician. He graduated early from Seoul Science High School, entered KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) majoring in mathematical sciences but dropped out, and then obtained a bachelor's degree in computer science and economics from Harvard University. He served as the inaugural leader of the People Power Party, later left the party to form the Reform Party. In the 2024 general election, he was elected as a member of the National Assembly representing Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do (乙 constituency), and is currently the Reform Party's presidential nominee.
Key Pledges: Under the slogan "The Choice that Opens the Future," Lee Jun-seok presented ten key pledges: Government Reform, Economic Revitalization, Strengthening Local Competitiveness, Pension Reform, Education Reform, Youth Support, Defense Reform, and Prioritizing Science and Technology.
Leaner Government, Better Governance: Consolidating 19 ministries into 13 (Ministry of Education + Ministry of Science and ICT → Ministry of Education and Science, abolishing the Ministry of Unification, abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, establishing a Ministry of Health, etc.), introducing a three-deputy prime minister system (security, strategy, social affairs), transferring the budget compilation function of the Ministry of Economy and Finance to the Prime Minister's Office, abolishing the CIO, and integrating the National Human Rights Commission and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission. Aiming for efficient and specialized government operation.
Bringing Chinese and Vietnamese Factories Back to Korea: Incentivizing reshoring of overseas Korean companies to major domestic industrial complexes, applying differentiated minimum wages and easing regulations for foreign workers, establishing special visas exclusively for foreign workers, and strengthening support for foreign worker settlement. Promoting regional economic revitalization and rust belt resolution.
Empowering Local Governments through Corporate Tax Autonomy: Transferring a portion of the national corporate tax revenue to local taxes (allowing local governments to apply flexible tax rates), establishing a corporate tax competition system among local governments, and maximizing the effect of local consumption tax transfers. Strengthening local fiscal independence and genuine local decentralization.
Delegating Final Minimum Wage Determination to Local Governments: After the Central Minimum Wage Commission determines a basic minimum wage, each local government would be granted the authority to adjust it within a 30% range, and operate a minimum wage system that reflects local conditions.
Separating New and Old Pensions as the Only Solution for National Pension Reform: Managing premiums paid after the reform point separately in a new pension account to completely financially separate it from the old pension, managing the unreserved liabilities of the old pension (automatic adjustment mechanism, early injection of state funds), and introducing a new pension with a defined contribution structure. Building a sustainable pension system.
Introducing a National Responsibility System for Teacher Lawsuits and Learning Guidance Offices to Protect Teachers' Rights: Providing legal representation and dedicated lawyers from education offices for civil and criminal lawsuits related to duties, strengthening punishment for false accusations against teachers, introducing learning guidance offices and student life support officers, and implementing phased separation measures and post-adaptation programs.
Supporting Youth Challenges with a 50 Million KRW Seed Fund: Offering a loan product with no usage restrictions for youth (aged 19-34) (up to 50 million KRW, 1.7% fixed interest rate), ensuring flexible repayment methods, and allowing choice and conversion from existing student loans. Realizing genuine equality of opportunity for youth.
Selecting Officers from Active Duty Enlistees: Establishing an officer and non-commissioned officer selection structure centered on enlisted soldiers, integrating basic military training for enlisted soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and officers, introducing a short-term service officer selection system, a tuition support system linked to service, and a service deferment system. Achieving efficient military personnel management and youth support simultaneously.
Implementing a 'Regulatory Benchmark Country System' for Overwhelming Regulatory Reform: Benchmarking the regulatory levels of global leading countries, establishing and integrating the procedures of a Regulatory Review Board, expanding special exception periods (up to 10 years), allowing collective applications centered on business organizations, and establishing regulatory benchmark countries by sector and a roadmap for legal revisions. Reforming outdated regulations hindering entrepreneurship and new industry development.
Introducing a 'National Science Hero Preferential System' including 'Science and Technology Achievement Pension' and 'Scientist Fast Track': Providing a monthly pension along with a bonus to scientists and engineers who achieve a certain level of performance, and offering fast-track benefits equivalent to diplomats for meeting certain criteria such as publishing in SCI-indexed Q1 journals. Honoring outstanding scientists and engineers at the national level and creating an environment conducive to research.
Support Base and Political Ideology: The Reform Party tends to be a centrist-right third party, advocating for a "small but strong government" and emphasizing efficient and specialized government operation through ministry consolidation and the abolition of the CIO. He also hinted at efforts to resolve gender conflict by mentioning "a direction of integration where men are not marginalized and other professional fields can work together."
Kwon Young-guk (Labor Party):
Profile: Born in Taebaek, Gangwon Province in 1963 as the son of a miner, Kwon Young-guk graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in metallurgical engineering and obtained a master's degree from Tokushima University in Japan. He served as the leader of the Labor Party, announced his candidacy on April 14, 2025, and was officially nominated as the presidential candidate on April 30, 2025.
Key Pledges: Under the slogan "Overturn! The Unequal World," Kwon Young-guk's pledges focused on ten key areas: Resolving Inequality through Tax Increases, Strengthening Labor Rights and Social Safety Nets, A Non-Discriminatory and Safe Coexisting Society, Establishing Climate Justice, Housing and Real Estate Policies for Tenants, Constitutional Amendment for Expanding Democracy, An Era of Universal Care, Education Reform, and Peace and Sovereignty.
Resolving Inequality through Tax Increases: Increasing inheritance and gift taxes by 90% (applying a 90% special tax rate for segments exceeding 3 billion KRW), introducing a new wealth tax based on net assets (for those with over 10 billion KRW), raising the top income and corporate tax rates to 60%, implementing a 30% financial investment income tax and virtual asset tax, imposing property taxes on religious corporations, introducing a new digital service tax for overseas platforms, and restoring the Yoon Suk-yeol government's tax cuts for the wealthy. Aiming to dismantle inherited wealth and expand welfare.
Labor Rights and Social Safety Nets for All Workers: Expanding debt relief for self-employed individuals, legalizing debt statute of limitations, establishing local public banks, introducing equity investment systems for local small and medium-sized enterprises and self-employed businesses, providing support for worker acquisition of businesses, implementing a universal job guarantee system, and transforming agriculture (strengthening crop disaster compensation system, enacting a Food Sovereignty Act, guaranteeing fair prices for agricultural products).
A Non-Discriminatory and Safe Coexisting Society: Elevating and strengthening the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (establishing a 'Vice Minister for Gender Equality'), enacting a comprehensive anti-discrimination law, including mandatory cooperation clauses for digital sexual violence investigations, introducing non-consensual rape laws, ensuring safe abortion and women's sexual and reproductive rights, introducing a 'Non-Marital Birth Support Act,' abolishing the 'paternal preference' principle in civil law, protecting student human rights and labor rights, building a foundation for an inclusive immigrant society, and guaranteeing the rights of people with disabilities (deinstitutionalization, mobility rights, labor rights).
Transition to an Eco-Equal Society by Establishing Climate Justice: Swift phasing out of coal and expanding public renewable energy (early closure of all coal-fired power plants before 2035), large-scale public investment based on climate justice tax revenue (establishing a Green Public Investment Bank), setting a 2050 carbon neutrality goal and raising the 2035 NDC to 70%, abolishing nuclear-centric energy policies and enacting a 'Nuclear Phase-Out Basic Act,' completely halting environmentally destructive construction projects and reckless development, strengthening socio-ecological regulations on AI, digital transformation, and semiconductor industries, supporting decarbonization and just transition of high-emission industries, establishing a roadmap for transitioning to a circular society, and creating systems for safe and just lives amidst the climate crisis.
Housing and Real Estate Policies for Tenants: Realistic housing standards, providing 2 million public green rental homes and green remodeling support, government-funded relief for jeonse fraud victims, guaranteeing tenants' continued right to reside through unlimited two-year contract renewals, mandating rental housing registration, introducing public pre-emption rights for land and housing, setting limits on housing ownership, reforming the operation of the Housing and Urban Fund, and supporting public redevelopment.
Constitutional Amendment for More Democracy: Preventing recurrence of rebellion and constitutional disruption (deleting peacetime martial law powers, changing the order of presidential power succession during a vacancy), strengthening citizen sovereignty (including the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement in the Constitution, introducing citizen initiative rights), expanding political diversity (allowing regional parties, run-off voting), and long-term constitutional amendment for the 7th Republic (reforming the imperial presidency, decentralization amendment, gender equality amendment, climate amendment, expansion of basic rights).
Universal Care from Cradle to Grave: Innovatively strengthening national and local government care functions, establishing a happy childbirth and childcare system for all, enacting the Child Basic Act, creating an elder-respecting society for an hyper-aging society, strengthening public and local healthcare, implementing a 1 million KRW ceiling for national hospital bills, and implementing universal sickness benefits.
Education for Happiness, Not Competition: Transforming classrooms (small schools, limiting class size to 20 students), transforming university education (abolishing undergraduate programs at Seoul National University, leveling up regional national universities, abolishing tuition fees), easing college admissions competition (5-grade Suneung system, absolute grading), strengthening arts and physical education, strengthening labor education, and providing lifelong education from childhood to old age.
From Minefields to Railways, Peace and Sovereignty: Resuming the Korean Peninsula peace process (restoring the September 19 military agreement, resuming Kaesong Industrial Complex and Mount Kumgang tourism), promoting 'Green Détente' for climate crisis cooperation, realizing the Trans-Eurasian Railway, opening the Russian Arctic route, moving beyond 'pro-US vs. pro-China' ideological diplomacy and restoring a pragmatic neutral stance, and building a reliable military that respects human rights.
Support Base and Political Ideology: Kwon Young-guk advocates progressive values, emphasizing "resolving polarization and inequality" and "grand social reform." He aims for a "non-discriminatory society" and "a Republic of Korea where everyone lives together," criticizing the instrumentalization of human rights for electoral gain. Diplomatically, he emphasizes "neutral diplomacy," advocating for a pragmatic and independent foreign policy that prioritizes national interests without leaning towards the US or China. He also adheres to the principle of denuclearization and maintains a cautious stance on discussions of nuclear armament rather than nuclear potential.
Other Candidates:
Hwang Kyo-ahn (Independent): Born in 1957, he served as Prime Minister (2015-2017). He campaigned under the slogan "Eradicating election fraud to provide a future for youth" and announced his candidacy on April 9th but later withdrew.
Song Jin-ho (Independent): Born in 1968, he ran with the slogan "Economy First, Politics Later!"
Koo Ju-wa (Liberty Unification Party): Born in 1980, he campaigned with the slogan "Political change through the Gwanghwamun spirit!" but withdrew his candidacy on May 19th.
V. Opinion Polls and Support Trends
The 2025 snap presidential election showed a fierce contest right up until the ban on opinion poll publication. According to the final survey released by JoongAng Ilbo and Realmeter on May 28, Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung garnered 49.2% support, People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo received 36.8%, and Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok had 10.3%.
VI. Impact of the 2025 Presidential Election on South Korean Society
Shifting Political Landscape and a Test for Democracy: The 2025 snap election is expected to bring significant changes to South Korea's political landscape. Triggered by the unprecedented impeachment of the president, the new political order is likely to be restructured to reflect reform and change. While this can be interpreted as a positive sign of a healthy democracy, it also maximizes political uncertainty and could lead to various risks during a domestic governance vacuum.
This election carries the historic tasks of "ending extremist politics" and "national unity." South Korea is currently facing not only inter-Korean division but also left-right division and extreme political situations. New leadership will need to resolve these social conflicts and polarization, and galvanize national capabilities to overcome the crisis. Data from the past three presidential elections shows deepening emotional polarization among voters, with the percentage of voters holding negative feelings towards opposing parties increasing by approximately 30 percentage points over ten years. This indicates that healing these social divisions will be a core task for the new government.
Impact on Economic Conditions and Policy Direction: Political uncertainty can pose significant challenges to the overall economy and business environment. In 2025, the South Korean economy is showing signs of slowing growth due to increased domestic and external uncertainties, with first-quarter GDP decreasing by 0.1% year-on-year. Domestic demand also fails to show a visible recovery, as political instability continues to dampen sentiment and external uncertainties expand.
In particular, the outcome of the U.S. presidential election and the possibility of a Trump administration could significantly impact the South Korean economy. If a Trump administration imposes a 25% reciprocal tariff rate on South Korea, it is projected that economic recovery will be difficult for the next 1-2 years. This could lead to a decline in exports, slowing growth, and a shrinking current account surplus. Furthermore, complex economic difficulties are anticipated, including weakened consumer sentiment, reduced corporate investment, and worsening government finances (increased national debt-to-GDP ratio).
The new government's regulatory stance, economic support policies, and international cooperation direction could bring significant changes to business activities. Companies increasingly need to monitor political trends in real-time and focus on risk management and strategic responses to prepare for the uncertain political climate.
Deepening Social Polarization and the Task of Integration: Beyond political polarization, South Korean society faces various social conflicts, including widening wealth gaps and intergenerational conflict. These conflicts can lead to slander, threats, and even physical violence against specific candidates and parties during the election process, raising voter concerns about electoral crimes.
The new president must prioritize resolving this social polarization and achieving national unity. Recognizing and respecting opponents beyond ideology and faction, and reviving a culture of dialogue and compromise for coexistence and communication, are presented as direct paths to restoring democracy. Policy efforts that embrace the vulnerable, such as supporting social minorities and implementing economic democratization, are expected to contribute to social cohesion.
Changes in International Affairs and the Direction of Foreign and Security Policy: The 2025 international landscape is projected to be characterized by competitive 'renewal' among major powers, unstable leadership, and the resurgence of unilateralism. The United States is likely to pursue self-centered trade practices and increase burden-sharing demands on allies under its 'America First' policy, which could affect the resilience of the ROK-US alliance. China and Russia are also expected to focus on their national interests, increasing uncertainty in the international order.
The new South Korean government must pursue "pragmatic diplomacy" that prioritizes national interests amidst this harsh international competition. The importance of responding to North Korea's nuclear threat and ROK-US-Japan security cooperation will continue, while strategic responses to new security threats such as deepening North Korea-Russia cooperation will also be necessary. It is a critical time for South Korea to demonstrate diverse diplomatic capabilities, including contributing to the international community, engaging in diplomacy befitting its national stature, and actively participating in global climate crisis response efforts.
VII. Conclusion: A Choice for the Future
The 2025 South Korean snap presidential election is more than a mere change of government; it is a critical watershed that will determine the nation's future direction. Held under the extraordinary circumstances of President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, this election tests the resilience and maturity of its democracy while clearly revealing the complex domestic and international challenges facing new leadership.
The new president must make it their top priority to heal social polarization and rally national capabilities to achieve "national unity." Furthermore, they must implement practical policies to revitalize the economy and stabilize livelihoods amidst an increasingly uncertain global economic environment. In the realm of foreign and security affairs, the new administration must proactively respond to the changing international order through "pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests" and strive to strengthen South Korea's global standing.
This election offers voters a crucial opportunity to determine not just a single candidate, but the direction and values of South Korea. In this era of chaos, for politics to regain public trust and serve as a reliable guide for the future, the active participation and wise judgment of voters are more important than ever. Each vote cast by the public will shape the nation's direction and character, becoming the great driving force that enables South Korea to wisely navigate this turbulent period.