AP PHOTOS: South Korea votes for a new president
South Korea’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, and his wife Kim Hea Kyung, celebrate outside of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Koreans are choosing a new president Tuesday to succeed the conservative who was ousted for imposing martial law briefly last year.
Because the election was held early due to Yoon Suk Yeol’s removal, the winner will take office Wednesday without the typical two-month transition. Surveys before the election indicated liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung is likely to win easily as voters remain frustrated over the martial law debacle and the main conservative candidate, Kim Moon Soo, struggles with moderates.
Here is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Supporters of South Korea’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, react outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Supporters of South Korea’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, react outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Supporters of South Korea’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, react outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Supporters of South Korea’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, react outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Supporters of South Korea’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, react outside of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Supporters of South Korea’s Democratic Party’s presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, react outside of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
National Election Commission officials sort ballots for counting during the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
National Election Commission officials sort ballots for counting during the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Members of the Democratic Party of Korea watch television coverage of the exit polls for the presidential election at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool via AP)
Members of the Democratic Party of Korea watch television coverage of the exit polls for the presidential election at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool via AP)
National Election Commission officials sort out ballots for counting at the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea,Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
National Election Commission officials sort out ballots for counting at the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea,Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
National Election Commission officials work to sort out ballots for counting at the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
National Election Commission officials work to sort out ballots for counting at the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
National Election Commission officials sort out ballots for counting at the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea,Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
National Election Commission officials sort out ballots for counting at the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea,Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Members of the Democratic Party of Korea watch television coverage of the exit polls for the presidential election at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool via AP)
Members of the Democratic Party of Korea watch television coverage of the exit polls for the presidential election at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Jung Yeon-je/Pool via AP)
A man casts his vote with a baby for presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
A man casts his vote with a baby for presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
National Election Commission officials sort out ballots for counting at the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
National Election Commission officials sort out ballots for counting at the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
Lawmakers of the People Power Party watch television coverage of the exit polls for the presidential election at the National assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Song Kyung Seok/Pool via AP)
Lawmakers of the People Power Party watch television coverage of the exit polls for the presidential election at the National assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday June 3, 2025. (Song Kyung Seok/Pool via AP)
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, and former first lady Kim Keon-Hee arrive to cast their votes for the presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Shin Hyun-woo/Yonhap via AP)
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, and former first lady Kim Keon-Hee arrive to cast their votes for the presidential election at a polling station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, June 3, 2025. (Shin Hyun-woo/Yonhap via AP)