Overview

• Lee Ju-ho, South Korea's fourth acting president in six months, has prioritized military readiness and fair election management ahead of the June 3 presidential vote.
• Former acting president Han Duck-soo officially launched his presidential campaign after resigning from his interim leadership role on May 1.
• The Supreme Court's decision to overturn opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung's acquittal on election law violations casts doubt on his eligibility to run for president.
• Successive leadership changes have disrupted governance, with the Foreign Ministry retracting and reissuing diplomatic notices to reflect the evolving chain of command.
• Ongoing U.S.-South Korea trade negotiations face uncertainty as key policymakers resign, raising concerns over the country's diplomatic and economic stability.