Ex-factory worker ascended to become the president of South Korea

Reborn from the Ashes: Lee Jae-myung, South Korea's President-elect, Tells His Tale

SEONGNAM, South Korea - South Korean President-elect Lee Jae-myung's politics are as deeply personal as they are passionate, a reflection of the "wretchedness" of his tumultuous youth.

Reminiscing about his youth, Lee paints a poignant picture of his humble beginnings. In the heart of Seongnam, a city near Seoul, Lee and his family rented a single semi-basement room from a neighborhood market. His father, an earnest cleaner, struggled to make ends meet, while his mother held down the fort as a bathroom attendant.

The young Lee spent his teenage years soldiering through factory jobs, starting at a handmade jewelry maker at 13. He toiled for 12 hours a day, inhaling the acrid fumes of his lead-soldering work. Times were so hard that the owner often skipped out on his wages, leaving Lee high and dry.

Wearing his heart on his sleeve, Lee poured his soul into his studies, night after night. His grit paid off, earning him a scholarship to Chung-Ang University to pursue law. His legal prowess, coupled with his unwavering dedication to the underdog, set him apart.

Lee's upbringing fostered a fierce compassion for the most vulnerable - a fire that burns brightly in his political convictions today.

A Life of Struggle, a Political Rise

Born in December 1964, Lee came of age during turbulent times. As the fifth of seven siblings, he struggled to find his footing amidst financial instability. By the time the family settled in Seongnam in 1976, it had become a haven for those who had been displaced from Seoul's shantytowns.

Lee's life took a turn for the worse when he was mired in poverty. Injured while working at a baseball glove factory as a teenager, he bore the physical and emotional scars for years. Desperate, he attempted to take his own life. His suicide attempt was thwarted, however, after a fortuitous encounter with a sympathetic pharmacist.

But the indomitable spirit within Lee refused to be extinguished. Determined to education as the pathway out of poverty, he channeled his energy into self-improvement, slowly clawing his way up the educational ladder, night after night, after grueling factory shifts.

Policing the Powerful: Lee Jae-myung's Journey from Activist to Mayor

Lee's unwavering commitment to justice and fairness inspired him to delve into activism. In Seongnam, he waged a relentless battle against corruption, earning him a reputation as a powerful watchdog.

Ha Dong-geun, 73, a fellow activist who worked alongside Lee for over a decade, remembers their first encounter. Ha describes Lee as a whirlwind of determination, forever eager to strive for change.

Yet their ambitious efforts met with significant resistance, making substantial progress elusive. Frustrated but determined, Lee turned to politics, eventually becoming the Mayor of Seongnam from 2010 to 2018.

A Mayorship Marked by Empathy and Innovation

Lee's tenure as the Mayor of Seongnam is a testament to his compassionate leadership. He tirelessly worked to dismantle the city's mountainous debt, ultimately harmonizing the finances and transforming Seongnam into a thriving metropolis.

His welfare policies were instrumental in reshaping the city's landscape, providing free school lunches and school uniforms, financial aid for new mothers, and a basic annual income for young citizens. Such initiatives earned Lee a lifeline for the working-class and a reputation for true servant leadership.

A Hospital Born from the Fires of Tenacity

One of Lee's most memorable accomplishments during his Mayoral term was the establishment of Seongnam Citizens Medical Center. It rose from the ashes of two shuttered hospitals, providing much-needed medical services to the city's most impoverished residents.

Though it faced financial challenges, the hospital was a lifeline for Lee's faithful supporters and a beacon of hope for the community. A proud Lee, who still recalls the hardships he faced, believes that serving the public good means serving, regardless of profitability.

The Struggles that Shape a Leader

Although it has been years since Lee left Seongnam to pursue higher political offices, his feats as the Mayor echo with profound resonance among the working-class. Kim Seung-man, a 67-year-old shop owner, reminisces about a time when Lee frequented the neighborhood, listening to the concerns of the common folk and addressing each with diligence and empathy.

For Kim and other working-class citizens, Lee's humble beginnings and personal struggles make him a leader who truly understands and embodies their struggles.

The Road Ahead: Lee Jae-myung, President of South Korea

Lee's journey from a life of poverty to the halls of power has captivated the nation, inspiring many with his unwavering resilience and strong sense of purpose.

Despite the criticisms and divisiveness that have trailed him, Lee remains steadfast in his mission to restore South Korea's democratic norms while providing a safety net for the most vulnerable members of society. With his political party now holding both the executive and legislative branches, the path is clear for him to implement his ambitious welfare agenda.

As he navigates the complexities of South Korean politics, Lee's personal experience continues to ground him, ensuring that the interests and struggles of the common folk remain at the forefront of his agenda. The future may be uncertain, but one thing is clear: Lee Jae-myung's presidency will be marked by grit, determination, and a commitment to serve the people.

Sources:

The personal struggles of South Korea's President-elect Lee Jae-myung are a reflection of his humble beginnings in Seongnam, a city near Seoul, where he lived in a single semi-basement room with his struggling family.
Prior to his political career, Lee waged a relentless battle against corruption in Seongnam, earning a reputation as a powerful watchdog in police-related news and crime-and-justice sectors.
Lee's welfare policies, implemented during his term as Seongnam's Mayor, included providing free school lunches, school uniforms, financial aid for new mothers, and a basic annual income for young citizens, making strides in the general news and health sectors.
One of Lee's most significant achievements as Mayor was the establishment of Seongnam Citizens Medical Center, a hospital designed to serve the city's most impoverished residents, under the policy-and-legislation and health sectors.
Despite the criticisms and divisiveness that have trailed Lee, he remains committed to restoring South Korea's democratic norms, implementing his ambitious welfare agenda, and serving the people, which resonates in the politics, policy-and-legislation, and general-news sectors.
The inspiration behind Lee's commitment to the underdog can be traced back to his youth, where he experienced turbulent times, poverty, and the threats of war-and-conflicts, which shaped both his personal life and his political convictions.

Ex-factory worker ascended to become the president of South Korea