South Korea Elects New President After Impeachment Crisis
New President Elected in South Korea Six Months Post Temporary Martial Law - Following the temporary implementation of martial law, South Korea swiftly moves forward with a fresh new leader taking office as the country's president.
The conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, forced to step down in December due to a budget dispute, paved the way for an early election in the summer of 2025. After lifting the martial law he had implemented briefly, his impeachment was confirmed by the Constitutional Court in April.
The past few months have shaken South Korea's political landscape and society, with the country hoping to heal the rifts and restore stability through this election.
In all major polls before the election, the centrist Lee Jae-myung was consistently leading. In a Gallup Institute survey, the Democratic Party candidate received 49 percent of the votes, while the ruling conservative PPP party's Kim Moon Soo trailed behind at 35 percent[1]. This vote marks a significant shift for Kim, who led the PPP party that Yoon originated from, having resigned two weeks prior to avoid party expulsion.
A total of 44.3 million voters were called to participate in the East Asian election. The voter turnout slightly surpassed that of the 2022 presidential election, reaching 62.1 percent at midday. Over a third of eligible voters had already cast their ballots during early voting last Thursday and Friday[1].
Sixty-eight-year-old taxi driver Choi Sun Wook voiced his support for opposition candidate Lee, stating, "Ex-president Yoon betrayed the people, and I hope the next president will create an atmosphere of peace and unity instead of ideological warfare." In contrast, 64-year-old voter Park Yeon Ok, supporting conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo, believed he was more equipped to mend the divisiveness within the nation[4].
The 61-year-old opposition leader Lee garnered attention during the temporary declaration of martial law by giving a pro-democracy speech in the parliament encircled by the army, which he streamed on online platforms[4]. Lee had narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon. His earlier stance against the imposition of martial law distinguished his election campaign from Kim, who initially refused to apologize for his role in the declaration and didn't express sincere regret until May[4][5].
Following the temporary declaration of martial law, protests both for and against Yoon ensued. In January, a pro-Yoon rally became violent when radical supporters invaded a courthouse in Seoul[3]. Given the escalating tensions, tight security measures were enforced during the election, with thousands of police officers on hand in Seoul[5].
Despite the security concerns, Lee, a former factory worker, successfully campaigned while wearing a bulletproof vest and delivering speeches behind protective glass shields, having survived an assassination attempt the previous year[5].
As the newly elected South Korean President, Lee will be tasked with overcoming political divisions, addressing the economic crisis, reducing inflation, and managing the critical challenge of dealing with North Korea's nuclear threat[5].
- The newly elected President of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung, will need to focus on addressing the employment policy, considering the economic crisis and high inflation rates that the country is facing.
- In the ongoing politics of South Korea, the employment policy is a crucial area of focus, particularly with South Korea's General News reporting on the pressing need for a stable and effective employment policy.
- The ongoing employment policy debate in EC countries, including South Korea, is influenced heavily by ongoing war-and-conflicts, as well as policy-and-legislation decisions, given the impact of conflicts on employment rates and economic stability.
