With a snap election looming, South Korea's rival parties jockeyed for position with vows to focus on the economy and livelihood, but the leaderless country remains hamstrung when it comes to confronting the biggest threat: Trump and tariffs.

President Donald Trump ignited a global trade war by announcing a plan to impose a 10% baseline tariff on most goods imported to the United States on April 2 and higher duties on more than 60 countries under the so-called reciprocal tariff scheme.

After South Korea's last impeachment and removal, in 2017, a presidential election was held on May 9 following the Constitutional Court's decision to remove then-President Park Geun-hye on March 9. Park's successor was inaugurated the day after that vote.