Opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party won the election with 49.4% of the vote. Kim Moon-soo of the incumbent People Power Party received 41.2%.
On 8 April 2025, acting President Han Duck-soo of the People Power party announced a snap presidential election after the Constitutional Court removed his predecessor President Yoon Suk Yeol from office on 4 April.
President Yook Suk Yeol had imposed martial law in December 2024 which led to his impeachment by parliament. The Constitutional Court upheld his impeachment in April.
Under South Korean law, an election must be held within 60 days if the position becomes vacant.
The country has a population of 52 million and around 44.2 million registered to vote. Voter turnout in the 2025 election was 79.4%