Poll chaos looms in South Korea as frontrunner hits legal hurdle

Court rules against Lee Jae-myung as PM Han resigns to run for president

20250501 Lee Jae-myung

South Korea's Supreme Court sent Lee Jae-myung's case of alleged election law violation back to a lower court on May 1. © Reuters

KIM JAEWON

SEOUL -- South Korea's presidential race is facing chaos after the Supreme Court ordered a new trial for frontrunner Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party on Thursday after throwing out a lower court acquittal, just weeks ahead of a snap election.

In another blow, Lee's most dangerous potential opponent, Han Duck-soo, resigned as prime minister less than an hour after the ruling -- suggesting he intends to run for the top job. His concurrent role as acting president will be taken over by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok.

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