South Korea plans to hold presidential election

South Korea's cabinet is expected to finalise a June 3 date for a presidential election following the removal of Yoon Suk Yeol last week for his short-lived martial law declaration.

Although not required by law, the cabinet will make the decision at a meeting on April 8, as it needs to approve a holiday for the event, Yonhap cited an unidentified government official as saying, Caliber.Az reports via South Korean media outlets.

Yoon was removed by the Constitutional Court on grounds of having violated his official duty by issuing the martial law decree on December 3 and mobilising troops to halt parliamentary proceedings.

The law requires a new presidential election within 60 days if the incumbent dies or is removed from office.

An official of the National Election Commission said the date mentioned in media reports was not final and would not become official until declared by the acting president, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

Earlier, South Korean media reported that the date of the early presidential election would likely be announced on Tuesday after a meeting of cabinet members. Acting President of the Republic of Korea Prime Minister Han Deok-soo must set the date within 10 days of the president's removal, by April 14.

By Khagan Isayev