Who may very well be South Korea’s subsequent chief?

Potential presidential contenders (clockwise from high left) Lee Jae-myung, Han Dong-hoon, Oh Se-hoon, Hong Joon-pyo and Kim Dong-yeon.PHOTOS: AFP, OHSEHOON/FACEBOOK, HONGJOONPYO/FACEBOOK, KIMDONGYEON/FACEBOOK

SEOUL – President Yoon Suk Yeol’s time period is ready to finish on Could 9, 2027, however with the prospect of his early departure from workplace, that timeline is prone to be moved up considerably.

This state of affairs turned extra probably after the Nationwide Meeting on Dec 14 voted to question him, suspending him from his duties whereas the Constitutional Courtroom critiques whether or not to uphold or dismiss his elimination from workplace.

Whereas there’s a probability, theoretically, that Mr Yoon is reinstated by way of the trial, South Korea’s political discussions are already shifting to who may very well be the following chief.

READ: South Korea’s President Yoon impeached over martial regulation bid

In response to a latest ballot carried out by Embrain Public on Dec 10 – per week after Yoon’s botched martial regulation – amongst 1,005 voters aged 18 and above, 37 per cent selected fundamental opposition Democratic Get together chairman Lee Jae-myung as their most popular subsequent chief of South Korea.

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Trailing behind him are former justice minister and ruling Folks Energy Get together chief Han Dong-hoon with 7 per cent, and Mr Cho Kuk, chief of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Get together, with 6 per cent.

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Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and Gyeonggi province’s Governor Kim Dong-yeon garnered 5 per cent, 4 per cent and three per cent, respectively. The mayors of Seoul and Daegu are members of the conservative ruling bloc, whereas the Gyeonggi province chief is a member of the Democratic Get together.

Lee Jae-myung

Democratic Get together chairman Lee Jae-myung is at present the entrance runner amongst potential presidential contenders. PHOTO: AFP

The 60-year-old Lee was the presidential candidate for the liberal bloc within the 2022 election, dropping to Mr Yoon by simply 0.73 share level, the smallest margin in South Korean historical past.

READ: ‘I’m so comfortable’: Tears of pleasure, Ok-pop on Seoul streets as Yoon impeached

Whereas he’s at present the entrance runner amongst potential presidential contenders, there are important dangers: His eligibility to run in any future election may very well be jeopardised by a number of ongoing trials.

He faces 5 authorized circumstances, together with fees of election regulation violations, perjury, corruption tied to a big improvement challenge, unlawful remittances to North Korea and misuse of company bank cards.

In November, a neighborhood court docket sentenced him to at least one 12 months in jail, suspended for 2 years, in his first trial on fees of violating election regulation.

Han Dong-hoon

Former justice minister Han Dong-hoon is chief of the ruling Folks Energy Get together.PHOTO: AFP

Mr Han, 51, is a star prosecutor-turned-politician, very similar to Mr Yoon. He had been Mr Yoon’s staunchest ally within the prosecution and in the course of the early days of his presidency.

In 2022, Mr Han was handpicked by Mr Yoon to function his first justice minister. Throughout his stint as minister, his confrontational exchanges with opposition lawmakers in parliamentary periods earned him a loyal following amongst right-wing voters.

In 2023, Mr Han stepped right into a extra direct political function as interim chief of the Folks Energy Get together following the resignation of Mr Kim Gi-hyeon. Although he confronted setbacks, resigning after the occasion’s defeat within the basic election in April, Mr Han re-entered the political area and was elected occasion chief once more in July.

Oh Se-hoon

Mr Oh Se-hoon is the primary Seoul mayor in South Korea’s historical past to be elected to 4 phrases.PHOTO: OHSEHOON/FACEBOOK

Mr Oh, 63, was re-elected as Seoul mayor in 2022, and has since emerged as one other potential presidential contender.

The Seoul mayoralty has lengthy been seen as a pathway to the presidency. Former president Lee Myung-bak held the place earlier than profitable the 2007 election.

Mr Oh was first elected Seoul mayor in 2006, serving for 5 years. After a failed referendum to dam a transfer to make free faculty meal provisions common, he resigned in his second time period. He returned to workplace in 2021 in a by-election and secured a fourth time period in 2022.

He’s the primary Seoul mayor in South Korea’s historical past to be elected to 4 phrases.

Hong Joon-pyo

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo is a conservative firebrand, identified for his daring language and carefree manner.PHOTO: HONGJUNPYO/FACEBOOK

Mr Hong, at present Daegu mayor, was Mr Yoon’s fundamental contender within the right-wing presidential main.

The prosecutor-turned-politician is a conservative firebrand, identified for his daring language and carefree manner. Throughout the precise’s presidential main in 2021, his distinctive persona resonated with many younger male voters.

Mr Hong was elected mayor of Daegu, a conservative stronghold, in 2022 and has since averted in-party conflicts and energy struggles, as an alternative voicing sharp criticism by way of social media.

He expressed opposition to the President’s impeachment, writing on Fb on Dec 14: “If we consider we made a mistake in electing President Yoon, we must always merely ask him to step down. Why go as far as to accuse him of rebellion, a extreme crime, simply to ship him to jail?”

Kim Dong-yeon

An financial knowledgeable, Mr Kim Dong-yeon has held key roles in numerous administrations.PHOTO: KIMDONGYEON/FACEBOOK

Mr Kim, 67, is the governor of Gyeonggi province, having risen from humble beginnings, rising up in a shack after dropping his father at age 11.

He graduated from Deoksu Excessive Faculty and labored for Hana Financial institution whereas attending regulation faculty at night time.

As an financial knowledgeable, he has held key roles in numerous administrations, together with these of presidents Moon Jae-in and Park Geun-hye. Between 2017 and 2018, he served as deputy prime minister in addition to finance minister.

He ran for president in 2022. Though that marketing campaign was unsuccessful, he went on to win the governorship of Gyeonggi province later the identical 12 months.