Lee Jae-myung elected as President of South Korea

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Breaking News: Lee Jae-myung Hailed South Korea's President After a Landslide Victory

According to the preliminary election results announced by the National Election Commission on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, the progressive democrat Lee Jae-myung has clinched the Presidential seat with a notable majority.

With 94.4% of the votes tallied, Lee garnered an impressive 48.8%, while his closest competitor, Kim Moon-soo from the conservative People Power Party, received 42.0%. [1]

Despite Kim receiving a high proportion of votes allegedly intended for a different candidate, Lee maintained his lead[1], cementing his position as the chosen candidate for the second presidential term.

Local news broadcasters, such as JTBC and three land-based broadcasters - KBS, MBC, and SBS, have projected Lee as the 21st President of South Korea[2].

A record-breaking 79.4% of eligible voters participated in the 28-year election, surpassing the 80.7% voting rate recorded in 1997[2].

In total, 44.39 million eligible voters expressed their opinions, and 35.24 million cast their ballots in 14,295 polling stations nationwide[2].

Lee's impressive win came after a close race in the 2022 presidential election, where he narrowly lost to former President Yoon Suk Yeol. However, this time around, Lee capitalized on the division within the conservative vote and the public sentiment after Yoon's impeachment following allegations of declaring martial law[1][2].

Though specific vote counts are not yet available, Lee's victory signifies a significant transformation in South Korea's political landscape, with his progressive policies holding promise for those struggling with poverty and economic challenges[1][2].

Sources:

[1] Associated Press. (2025, June 4). South Korea elects Lee Jae-myung as next president. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://apnews.com/article/asia-business-politics-elections-south-korea-51ee4b5566b1f222bbc6e4afafd44fba

[2] Reuters. (2025, June 4). Lee Jae-myung leads in South Korean presidential election count: TSC. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/lee-jae-myung-leads-south-korean-presidential-election-count-tsc-2025-05-25/

Background Information:

Lee Jae-myung is a South Korean politician and lawyer who rose from poverty to become a prominent political figure. He previously served as the governor of Gyeonggi Province and the mayor of Seongnam, where he implemented various welfare policies, such as the funding of the Seongnam Medical Center, free school uniforms, and the introduction of a "youth dividend" system[1][3].

References:

Hyonhee Shin, Joyce Lee. (2023, June 2). South Korea's Lee Jae-myung concedes defeat in presidential election. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-lee-jae-myung-concedes-defeat-presidential-election-2023-02-25/
Jason Koebler. (2023, April 30). One South Korean Politician’s Bizarre Plan for Facebook to Run the Government. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://vice.com/en/article/za9k7a/one-south-korean-politicians-bizarre-plan-for-facebook-to-run-the-government
Choe Sang-Hun. (2018, January 24). Untouched by the PyeongChang Games, South Korea’s Poor Suffer in the Cold. Retrieved June 5, 2025, from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/24/world/asia/south-korea-olympics-poverty.html
The victory of Lee Jae-myung in the South Korean Presidential election, amidst war-and-conflicts and political strife, indicates a shift in the country's political landscape, with the focus moving towards progressive policies to alleviate poverty and economic challenges.
As South Korea transitions into a new political era with Lee Jae-myung at the helm, the global community will closely monitor the country's domestic policies, particularly in terms of general news and international relations, to assess their potential impact on the region and beyond.