Six months since martial law: How three hours of December chaos led to Tuesday's presidential election
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- CHO JUNG-WOO
- [email protected]
![President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law at the presidential office in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Dec. 3, 2024. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/c91403cf-1152-48c7-a1c7-6a83d1b8c2c3.jpg)
President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law at the presidential office in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Dec. 3, 2024. [YONHAP]
Dec. 3, 2024 — President Yoon Suk Yeol declares emergency martial law at 10:27 p.m. shortly after informing the Cabinet of his plan.
![Lawmakers vote unanimously to overturn President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Dec. 4, 2024. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/ea557618-50a3-48a3-93cb-3253f8c7ec24.jpg)
Lawmakers vote unanimously to overturn President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law decree at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on Dec. 4, 2024. [NEWS1]
Dec. 4, 2024 — All 190 lawmakers present at the National Assembly vote to end martial law at 1:02 a.m. despite police and military efforts to prevent them from gathering. Yoon formally rescinds his decree around three hours later.
Dec. 14, 2024 — The National Assembly impeaches Yoon with the support of 204 lawmakers, including 12 PPP members. The Assembly’s representatives submit the motion to the Constitutional Court. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo becomes acting president.
![Angry supporters of former President Yoon Suk Yeol attempt to storm the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Jan. 19, after the court issued a warrant for his arrest. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/855fc736-3449-481f-b15f-8309228b259b.jpg)
Angry supporters of former President Yoon Suk Yeol attempt to storm the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo District, western Seoul, on Jan. 19, after the court issued a warrant for his arrest. [YONHAP]
Jan. 19, 2025 — Yoon's supporters storm the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo District, western Seoul, after the court issues a warrant for his arrest.
![Constitutional Court Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae reads the verdict on President Yoon Suk Yeol's fate at the court in central Seoul on April 4. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/da71bf4f-0a99-4cf9-836e-dc3ae1938523.jpg)
Constitutional Court Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae reads the verdict on President Yoon Suk Yeol's fate at the court in central Seoul on April 4. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
April 4, 2025 — The Constitutional Court upholds ruling on the National Assembly’s motion to impeach Yoon.
April 8, 2025 — The National Election Commission (NEC) announces June 3 as the date for the snap presidential election. Kim Moon-soo steps down from his post as labor minister.
April 9, 2025 — Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung steps down from his post. Kim announces his candidacy in the June 3 presidential election.
![A passerby watches a video of Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung announcing his bid for the June 3 presidential election at Seoul Station in central Seoul on April 10. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/3e7351a6-cde6-47fd-a39d-8e90b6cd9a23.jpg)
A passerby watches a video of Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung announcing his bid for the June 3 presidential election at Seoul Station in central Seoul on April 10. [YONHAP]
April 10, 2025 — Lee declares his candidacy in the snap presidential election.
April 27, 2025 — Lee secures the DP’s presidential nomination after winning four regional party primaries and securing 89.77 percent of the votes.
![Former acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announces his resignation from to run in the June 3 presidential election at the government complex in central Seoul on May 1. [OFFICE FOR GOVERNMENT POLICY COORDINATION]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/de446e83-1c18-4152-83df-755b0b351074.jpg)
Former acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announces his resignation from to run in the June 3 presidential election at the government complex in central Seoul on May 1. [OFFICE FOR GOVERNMENT POLICY COORDINATION]
May 2, 2025 — Han, who stepped down from his post the day before, declares his bid for the presidency.
May 3, 2025 — Kim wins party primary, earning 56.53 percent of the votes.
May 7, 2025 — Kim and Han hold the first round of talks about merging their campaigns.
![The People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo, right, and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo hold a second round of talks about merge their campaigns near the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on May 8. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/5d5465e1-10a8-4d3b-85a0-e2e1ace9755a.jpg)
The People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo, right, and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo hold a second round of talks about merge their campaigns near the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on May 8. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
May 8, 2025 — Kim and Han hold second round of talks about merging their campaigns, which ends after just an hour.
May 9, 2025 — Kim and Han hold the third and final round of talks to merge their campaigns, which ends after 30 minutes.
![Former Prime Minster Han Duck-soo, left, embraces People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo at the PPP's headquarters in Yeouido, western Seoul, on May 11. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/00b25917-2fe1-424b-b8d3-cd89b3b901c3.jpg)
Former Prime Minster Han Duck-soo, left, embraces People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo at the PPP's headquarters in Yeouido, western Seoul, on May 11. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
May 10, 2025 — The PPP’s leadership moves to cancel Kim’s candidacy around 1 a.m. and opens candidate registration for Han. The party's membership votes down the motion to replace Kim with Han, and Kim secures the nomination. Lee registers as a presidential candidate with the NEC.
![People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo registers his candidacy with the National Election Commission (NEC) at the NEC office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on May 11. [KIM SEONG-RYONG]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/28e5df00-ee96-470c-803d-77ac950ff0fa.jpg)
People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo registers his candidacy with the National Election Commission (NEC) at the NEC office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on May 11. [KIM SEONG-RYONG]
May 11, 2025 — Kim registers as presidential candidate with the NEC on the last day of registration. Seven candidates, including Jun-seok of the minor Reform Party Lee and Kwon Young-gook of the Democratic Labor Party, are officially registered for the 21st presidential election.
![Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, delivers a speech from a campaign vehicle equipped with bulletproof glass in front of KT&G's Sangsangmadang building in Mapo District, western Seoul, on May 19. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/051bfdd2-d9a2-4257-a06d-d6772007154b.jpg)
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, delivers a speech from a campaign vehicle equipped with bulletproof glass in front of KT&G's Sangsangmadang building in Mapo District, western Seoul, on May 19. [YONHAP]
May 12, 2025 — Campaigning officially begins.
May 18, 2025 — Five presidential candidates — Lee Jae-myung, Kim, Lee Jun-seok and Kwon — take part in the first televised presidential debate, which centers on the economy and AI.
![Voters living in France cast their ballots at a polling station at the Korean Embassy in Paris on May 20 as overseas voting for the June 3 presidential election kicks off its six-day run. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/dfb0bfdf-4b75-423a-bddf-22b35b290a6e.jpg)
Voters living in France cast their ballots at a polling station at the Korean Embassy in Paris on May 20 as overseas voting for the June 3 presidential election kicks off its six-day run. [NEWS1]
May 20, 2025 — Overseas voting begins.
May 23, 2025 — The five candidates wage a war of words over social issues in a second nationally televised debate.
May 26, 2025 — Overseas voting ends with 79.5 percent of eligible voters having cast ballots.
![From left, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, Kwon Young-gook of the Democratic Labor Party and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party pose for a photo ahead of the second televised presidential debate on May 23 at the KBS studio in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/a0e447b3-caac-4aa3-b3cc-dc0d4df0113c.jpg)
From left, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, Kwon Young-gook of the Democratic Labor Party and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party pose for a photo ahead of the second televised presidential debate on May 23 at the KBS studio in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
May 27, 2025 — The five candidates engage in the final televised debate, which touches on political polarization, foreign affairs and security issues.
![Voters cast their ballots at an early voting station at the Sajik-dong Community Service Center in Jongno District, central Seoul, on the second day of early voting for the 21st presidential election on May 30. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/7dee309f-6f86-4eac-a437-b9a412bb63ac.jpg)
Voters cast their ballots at an early voting station at the Sajik-dong Community Service Center in Jongno District, central Seoul, on the second day of early voting for the 21st presidential election on May 30. [NEWS1]
May 29, 2025 — Early voting begins in Korea.
![A voter casts their ballot at an early voting station in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on May 29. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/9a2fba63-99de-427b-b3c6-78e1506b1248.jpg)
A voter casts their ballot at an early voting station in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on May 29. [NEWS1]
May 30, 2025 — Early voting ends with 34.74 percent of eligible voters having cast ballots.
![Posters for presidential candidates are seen plastered on a wall in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam District, southern Seoul on May 29. [NEWS1]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/d1f721c7-df96-4de8-afec-77aa9ca36ad4.jpg)
Posters for presidential candidates are seen plastered on a wall in Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam District, southern Seoul on May 29. [NEWS1]
June 3, 2025 — Election Day
![Lee Jae-myung delivers his inaugural address as president at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on June 4. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2025/06/04/1c7eb066-dd50-4ac4-9e98-557e05900641.jpg)
Lee Jae-myung delivers his inaugural address as president at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, on June 4. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
June 4, 2025 — Lee Jae-myung wins the 21st presidential election with 49.42 percent of the vote.
BY CHO JUNG-WOO [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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