South Korea’s 21st presidential election is set to take place on June 3. Following his impeachment and removal from office, former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol announced on Saturday (17th) on Facebook that he would be stepping down from the conservative ruling party, the People Power Party (PPP), and urged voters to support the PPP’s presidential candidate, Kim Won-soo.
According to Reuters, Yoon Suk-yeol’s announcement came as the PPP’s presidential candidate trailed far behind the liberal opposition party, the Together Democratic Party’s candidate, Lee Jae-myung, in pre-election polls.
In the latest poll released by Gallup Korea on Friday, Kim Won-soo’s support rate was around 29%, while Lee Jae-myung’s was 51%, and Reform New Party candidate Lee Jun-seok’s was at 8%.
The four major presidential candidates in South Korea will hold their first televised debate on Sunday. Lee Jae-myung of the Together Democratic Party, Kim Won-soo of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform New Party, and Hwang Yeong of the Democratic Labor Party will participate in the debate.
Yoon Suk-yeol announced martial law on December 3 last year, which resulted in a brief imposition of martial law, leading to accusations of violating the constitution and laws by deploying the military into the parliament. The opposition-dominated parliament impeached him. On April 4 this year, the South Korean Constitutional Court upheld Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment, immediately terminating his presidential duties, prompting an early presidential election in South Korea.
Yoon Suk-yeol was urged by party members to leave the People Power Party to garner more support from moderate voters who viewed his actions negatively.
“I will leave the People Power Party and fulfill my duty to protect the Republic of Korea… Please support Kim Won-soo,” Yoon Suk-yeol said in his Facebook post.
He urged voters to participate in the election, support the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, Kim Won-soo, and consolidate their strength behind him. He stressed the importance of voting, emphasizing that every vote would be a crucial force in safeguarding the country’s freedom, sovereignty, and prosperity.
He stated that South Korea is currently standing at a crossroads of democracy… Without freedom and democracy, there can be no sustained economic development, no happiness for the people, and no sense of security…
“In my short political career, the People Power Party fought alongside with me and allowed me to become the President of South Korea. Leaving the People Power Party is, in my view, the best choice I can make at this time to secure victory in the election and defend freedom and democracy,” he concluded.