2017 South Korean Presidential Election Tuesday May 09,2017

The 19th South Korean presidential election is scheduled to be held on Tuesday May 09, 2017,after the impaechment and dismissal of incumbent Park Geun-hye

Under present law, the election will be decided in a single round on a first-past-the-post basis

The election was originally scheduled to be held on or before December 20,2017, but was moved after the decision of the Constitutional Court to uphold the parliament's impeachment of Park Geun-hye.

On 9 December 2016, President Park was impeached by the National Assembly by a vote of 234 for and 56 against (with seven invalid votes and two abstentions) after her implication in the 2016 South Korean political scandal. 

On 10 March 2017, Park was formally removed from office, with a unanimous ruling by all eight of the Constitutional Court's justices supporting her impeachment. 

A presidential election must now be held within 60 days

 In the meantime, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo ahn succeeded Park as acting president. 

After Park Geun-hye was removed from office by the Constitutional Court, acting president Hwang Kyo ahn has indicated he will not run for a term in his own right

Presdiential Cadidates

1)Moon Jae-in, a former leader of the Minjoo Party and Park’s opponent in the 2012 election, has been the unchallenged frontrunner in the polls for months now
The 64 year old former Human Rights Lawyer Moon Jae-previously ran for the Presidency in 2012. He is the favorite to win as the leader of the main opposition party. He is seen to be honest and an experienced politician.

2)Ahn Cheol Soo,the 64 year old former Human Rights Lawyer Moon Jae-In (문재인) previously ran for the Presidency in 2012. He is the favorite to win as the leader of the main opposition party. He is seen to be honest and an experienced politician.

3)Sim Sang-Jung – the only female candidate has been impressive during the TV debates and has moved into the 3 or 4 spot in the running.

4)Hong Jun-Pyo – Leader of the ruling Liberty Korea Party, he’s faced an uphill battle to gain voters trust following the issues with the former president.

5)Yoo Seong-Min – Another candidate who has looked confident on TV. He’s well liked by anti-park but pro Liberty Party supporters.