In a historic snap election, liberal opposition leader Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party has been elected president of South Korea, securing 49.42% of the vote and defeating conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, who garnered 41.15%.
The election, marked by a near-record 79.4% voter turnout, signals a turning point for the nation after six months of political upheaval sparked by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial martial law declaration.
Lee, a 61-year-old former human rights lawyer and governor of Gyeonggi Province, campaigned on promises to restore democracy, revitalize the economy, and bridge the deep polarization that has gripped South Korea. His victory comes as a response to public outrage over Yoon’s December 2024 martial law decree, which led to his impeachment and removal from office in April 2025. “I will do my utmost to fulfill the great responsibility and mission entrusted to me,” Lee said in a victory speech outside the National Assembly, vowing to prevent future military coups and unite the nation.
The newly elected President Lee said that the Tuesday’s election “judgment day” against Yoon’s martial law and his People Power Party’s failure to stop the ill-fated move.
The election was widely seen as a referendum on Yoon’s conservative People Power Party, which struggled to distance itself from the martial law fiasco. Kim Moon-soo, a former labor minister under Yoon, conceded defeat early Wednesday, congratulating Lee and acknowledging “the choice of the people.” Exit polls by major broadcasters KBS, MBC, and SBS had projected Lee’s win, with 51.7% to Kim’s 39.3%, reflecting public frustration with the conservative establishment.
Lee’s rise to the presidency marks a remarkable journey for the former factory worker, who overcame childhood poverty to become a prominent liberal figure. However, his polarizing reputation and ongoing legal battles, including charges of violating election laws and alleged bribery, pose challenges. While a sitting president is immune from prosecution for most crimes, a pending Supreme Court case could complicate his tenure if a guilty verdict is finalized.
