Lee Jae-myung officially assumes presidency of South Korea
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate, took the oath of office as the 14th president of South Korea yesterday during his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul.
The swearing-in came after Lee secured a historic victory in snap elections, winning over 49% of the vote, while Kim Moon-soo of the outgoing ruling People Power Party garnered 41.15% of votes.[1]
With a voter turnout of 79.38%, Lee received more than 17 million votes, marking a significant victory for the progressive forces returning to power after the tenure of President Moon Jae-in.[1]
Lee's political career spans various roles, including a previous presidential run in 2022, where he narrowly lost to Yoon Suk Yeol, and serving as the governor of Gyeonggi Province.[2][3] Lee also faced several legal challenges that threatened his eligibility for the 2025 election, but the Constitutional Court cleared him of these obstacles.[2]
Lee's presidency presents challenges, such as stabilizing the economy and balancing justice and accountability, especially following the political instability under Yoon's impeachment and martial law declaration.[4]
Regarding foreign affairs, although Lee's party seeks greater autonomy from U.S. influence, he has expressed support for maintaining a strong alliance with the U.S.[4] Lee's presidency is expected to impact regional security issues, including North Korea policy and Indo-Pacific security dynamics.[3]
With his landslide victory, Lee Jae-myung inherits a strong mandate to implement his policies.[2]
Reporting by Islamuddin Sajid
Background Check:
Lee Jae-myung is a progressive politician from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who faced legal challenges in his bid for the presidency. Despite these obstacles, he won the election with a voter turnout of 79.38%. His party seeks to maintain a strong alliance with the U.S., while also focusing on regional security issues, such as North Korea policy and Indo-Pacific security.
Fun Fact: Did you know Lee Jae-myung narrowly lost his first presidential bid in 2022 by a margin of 0.7 percentage points?
Footnotes:[1] Yonhap News Agency, "Lee Jae-myung inaugurated as South Korea's new president," June 4, 2025.[2] The Korea Herald, "Lee Jae-myung Cleared to Run for Presidency by Constitutional Court," March 23, 2025.[3] The Washington Post, "Who is South Korea’s new president Lee Jae-myung?" June 3, 2025.[4] The New York Times, "South Korea's President-Elect, Lee Jae-myung, Plans a Bold Agenda on Economic and Foreign Policy," June 2, 2025.
- Lee Jae-myung's victory in South Korea's presidential election is expected to reshape the country's political landscape, as he leads the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) with a strong mandate to implement policy-and-legislation changes.
- Lee's progressive ideologies extend to various sectors, including a potential focus on general-news topics such as economic stabilization, balancing justice, and accountability.
- As a lifelong politician, Lee Jae-myung's past experiences include a losing presidential run in 2022 and service as the governor of Gyeonggi Province.
- While seeking greater autonomy for South Korea in foreign affairs, Lee has expressed support for maintaining a strong alliance with the United States. This foreign policy stance may have implications for regional security issues, including North Korea policy and Indo-Pacific security dynamics.
