Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung has emerged victorious in South Korea’s presidential snap election, securing the top post after the impeachment of former leader Yoon Suk Yeol. Lee secured 48.523% of the votes with 70% of the ballots counted, comfortably ahead of his conservative rival Kim Moon-soo.
Lee, a former human rights lawyer and two-time presidential hopeful, thanked voters for their trust, stating outside his home: “I will do my utmost to fulfil the great responsibility and mission entrusted to me, so as not to disappoint the expectations of our people.” He added, “I will never forget the duty of a president to unite the people,” The Guardian reported.
This snap election was prompted by Yoon’s brief declaration of martial law in December, which was quickly overturned but sparked the country’s most serious political crisis in decades. The Constitutional Court upheld Yoon’s impeachment in early April, setting the stage for this high-stakes vote.
Kim Moon-soo Concedes as Lee Vows to Restore Democracy
Kim Moon-soo, representing the conservative People Power Party, conceded defeat as vote tallies showed Lee pulling ahead. Speaking to Bloomberg, Kim said he “humbly” accepts the outcome and congratulated his opponent.
Lee addressed supporters when about 80% of the votes had been counted. “I will carry out the mission you have given me,” he said, bowing to cheering crowds. In his speech, he pledged to revive the economy, restore democracy, and ensure that martial law would never return. He labelled Yoon’s actions as an “insurrection attempt”.
Turnout was notably high, reaching 77.8% before polls closed, with over a third of the 44.39 million eligible voters casting their ballots during early voting, according to The Guardian.
Lee Promises Change, Faces Deep Divisions and Legal Challenges
As reported by The Guardian, Lee’s campaign rode a wave of public anger against Yoon’s administration. He warned supporters that a Kim victory would mark the return of “rebellion forces,” the collapse of democracy, and the onset of a “backward, third-world nation.”
In contrast, Kim accused Lee of aiming to establish a dictatorship and warned of potential abuse of power. “Lee is now trying to seize all power in South Korea and establish a Hitler-like dictatorship,” Kim declared during a rally in Busan.
Despite his win, Lee enters office as a polarising figure. He is embroiled in multiple criminal cases, including bribery and involvement in a property scandal. Hearings have been postponed until after the election, allowing him to run. Lee maintains that the charges are baseless and politically driven.
According to Hankyoreh, Lee has chosen Lee Jong-seok, a former unification minister known for favouring dialogue with Pyongyang, as his nominee for the head of the National Intelligence Service. The role plays a critical part in either promoting inter-Korean talks or executing hardline strategies, depending on the government’s stance.
Lee’s foreign policy promises continuity with previous administrations, affirming South Korea’s alliance with the United States and maintaining trilateral cooperation with Washington and Tokyo. He also signalled a willingness to move away from Yoon’s combative approach toward North Korea, though he admitted it would be “very difficult” to quickly resume summit-level engagements with Kim Jong-un.
Lee, who grew up in poverty and worked in factories as a child, has recently adopted a more tempered tone despite his reformist reputation. As The Guardian reports, he pledged to heal divisions, stating that even those who did not vote for him are “also the citizens of our nation.” His five-year term begins Wednesday, with no transition period.
