South Korea to hold presidential election on May 9

South Korea will hold a presidential election on May 9 to replace impeached leader Park Geun-hye, who was dismissed last Friday over a corruption scandal, the Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday.

Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye in a car, waves to her supporters upon her arrival at her private home in Seoul. Source: YONHAP

Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who has also been acting president since December, said earlier he would not run for president in the election.

Hwang became acting as president when parliament impeached Park in December. The Constitutional Court upheld Park's impeachment last Friday and dismissed her from office.   

Hwang had emerged in opinion polls as a top conservative candidate even though he never declared an intention to run.