Presidential election set for June 3

SEOUL: South Korea will hold a presidential election on June 3, the country’s acting president said yesterday, after former leader Yoon Suk-yeol was removed from office over a disastrous declaration of martial law.

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The democratic country has been effectively leaderless since December, when ex-president Yoon attempted to subvert civilian rule but was quickly impeached by lawmakers and suspended from office.

The country’s Constitutional Court last week upheld his impeachment, stripping him of the top job and triggering fresh elections, which must be held within 60 days.

The government has set June 3 as polling day, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said yesterday, adding that it would be declared a temporary public holiday to facilitate voting.

The date took into account “the need to ensure smooth election operations and allow sufficient time for political parties to prepare,” he said.