Three likely South Korean presidential candidates named if Yoon Seok-yol resigns

On December 4 , Bloomberg news agency named the three most likely candidates for the post of president of the Republic of Korea in case of impeachment of the current head of state Yun Seok-yol.

Among the possible candidates, the agency names the leader of the opposition and largest Democratic Party Lee Jamyeong, the head of the pro-presidential party "Civil Force" Han Dong-hoon and "sworn enemy" of President Yoon Seok-yol, chairman of the party "Revive Korea" Cho Guk.

The agency believes Lee Jemyeong has the highest chances of running as his Democratic Party has already won a majority of seats in the unicameral parliament in the April 2024 election.

According to opinion polls, the incumbent's successor Han Dong-hoon is considered one of the most popular candidates for the presidential election scheduled for 2027.

Another candidate, Cho Guk, has personal grievances against President Yeol, according to the newspaper. In 2019, Cho, who served as justice minister in President Moon Jae-in's administration, helped Yoon become the country's top prosecutor. Yoon then initiated an investigation regarding Cho forging documents so that his daughter could enroll in medical school. As a result, Cho Gook had to resign.

Coup d'état: South Korea has imposed and lifted martial law

Military vehicles have appeared on the streets of Seoul

Earlier, Yonhap News Agency reported that South Korea's opposition parties will begin impeachment proceedings against Republic President Yun Seok-yeol on December 4.

President of the Republic of Korea Yun Seok-yol declared martial law in the country on December 3. The reason for such a step he called the threat of paralysis of power, arising from attempts to conduct impeachment proceedings. Commander of the emergency regime, Chief of Staff of the Ground Forces Park Ahn-soo noted that until martial law is lifted in the republic, the activities of parliament, political parties and associations are prohibited. Military equipment was brought to the streets of Seoul, the country's capital.

Later in the day, the South Korean government voted in favor of lifting martial law in the country. Yun Seok-yol then canceled an emergency gathering of military personnel and sent those who had arrived for the draft back.

The opposition Republic Party, in turn, demanded the president's resignation and said it intended to charge Yun Seok-yeol with treason. At the same time, all heads and senior secretaries of the presidential administration of South Korea resigned. In addition, the trade unions of the republic announced a general strike.