讀後心得

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol was ousted on the 4th, and the country will hold elections within 60 days. The ruling "People Power Party" has faced consistently low approval ratings since last year's parliamentary elections, and with Yoon's removal, its support has taken another hit. Polls show that a majority of South Koreans hope for a change in government, with the leader of the largest opposition party, the "Democratic Party," Lee Jae-myung, emerging as a popular presidential candidate. The South Korean government has begun preparations for the election and is expected to announce the election date by the 14th of this month. According to the latest polls, 51% of respondents support a change in government, while the "Democratic Party" has a support rate of 37%. Among the next presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung has a support rate of up to 34%. Lee may resign from his party leadership to participate in the primaries, but he faces legal challenges related to alleged violations of election laws, with the results of the third trial yet to be announced. In last year's presidential election, Lee Jae-myung narrowly lost to Yoon Suk-yeol.

With the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 4th, the country must hold new elections within 60 days. The ruling "People Power Party" has been in a slump since the parliamentary elections last April, and now, due to Yoon Suk-yeol's removal, its support rate has been hit hard again. According to recent polls, the South Korean public expects a change of power in the upcoming election, with the main opposition party "Democratic Party" leader Lee Jae-myung being the current most popular presidential candidate. The South Korean government has begun preparations for the next presidential election, which must be held by June 3 according to the law, and the acting president must announce the election date 50 days prior to the election day. Therefore, it is expected that the election date will be announced before the 14th of this month, with reports that it will be confirmed on the 8th.

• According to a poll released on the 3rd, 51% of respondents hope for a change of power, while only 33% support the People Power Party continuing in office.
• The support rate for the Democratic Party is 37%, slightly higher than the People Power Party's 33%.
• A poll released by Gallup Korea on the 4th shows Lee Jae-myung leading among popular presidential candidates with a 34% support rate, followed by Minister of Labor Kim Won-soo with 9%.
• Other candidates include former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, all of whom have support rates of no more than 5%.

As the South Korean government announces early elections, Lee Jae-myung may resign as party leader to participate in the competitive party primaries, seeking to represent the Democratic Party. However, Lee Jae-myung is currently facing a case involving alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act, with the third trial still pending. The Seoul High Court overturned the first-instance ruling on the case on March 26, judging Lee Jae-myung not guilty, while the Supreme Court is expected to announce the third trial results by the end of June. It remains to be seen whether the developments in this case will affect Lee Jae-myung's electoral prospects.

In the 2022 presidential election, Lee Jae-myung narrowly lost to Yoon Suk-yeol, becoming Yoon's main political rival. The Democratic Party, led by Lee, performed impressively in last year's parliamentary elections, winning 175 out of 300 seats, creating a situation of "small majority ruling over a large minority," making Yoon Suk-yeol's situation akin to "a lame duck turning into a dead duck." After Yoon announced martial law in December last year, Lee Jae-myung resolved to overturn Yoon Suk-yeol, believing that Yoon posed a threat to the constitutional order of South Korea, and led the opposition party in impeachment efforts, emphasizing that "normal democracy must be restored."