South Korea Crisis Deepens: Presidential Candidate Retrial, Resignations

South Korea's political crisis intensified after the Supreme Court ordered a retrial for presidential frontrunner Lee Jae-myung over alleged election law violations, potentially barring him from the upcoming June 3 snap election. The court overturned Lee's previous acquittal, stating he had made false claims during his 2022 campaign that could have misled voters. This decision, coming just weeks before the election, has rocked the presidential race in which Lee has consistently led in polls. The situation was further destabilized by the resignations of acting president Han Duck-soo, who hinted at his own presidential ambitions, and finance minister Choi Sang-mok, who stepped down amid an impeachment vote. With Han and Choi out, Education Minister Lee Ju-ho has become the interim leader tasked with overseeing the electoral process. These developments have deepened political uncertainty in South Korea, already reeling from the impeachment and removal of former president Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law attempt.