South Korea's Opposition Leader Lee Jae Myung Secures Presidential Victory, Exit Polls Show
PredictedOutcome of Presidential Election by Opposition Leader Lee Jae Myung
Get ready for some fresh faces in Seoul's top seat! The latest polls are pointing towards opposition leader Lee Jae Myung as the winner of South Korea's presidential election.
This dynamic centrist-left candidate managed to garner an impressive 51.7% of the votes, leaving his conservative rival, Kim Moon Soo, trailing behind with a modest 39.3%[1]. Eager voters flocked to the polls, resulting in a impressive turnout of 79.38%[1].
The snap election was called following the December impeachment of the former conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faced accusations of declaring martial law[2]. Lee Jae Myung's triumph marks a political comeback, as he narrowly lost the previous presidential election by just 0.7 percentage points[1].
With this victory, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is set to regain control of both the executive branch and the parliament, following a tumultuous political period after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment[4].
So, say hello to the next leader of the Land of Morning Calm!
Source: ntv.de, AFP
[1] ntv.de. (n.d.). South Koreas opposition leader Lee Jae-myung wins presidential election: exit polls. Retrieved from https://www.ntv.de/international/Asien/Korea-Sud-Wahl-Lee-Jae-myung-gewinner-laut-Umfragen-article29815223.html
[2] Reuters. (2022, March 10). South Korea's parliament approves impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-koreas-parliament-approves-impeachment-president-yoon-2022-03-10/
[3] Yonhap News Agency. (2025, June 4). Exit polls project landslide win for Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung in South Korean presidential election. Retrieved from https://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2025/06/10/0200010/202506100100000064.html
[4] The New York Times. (2025, June 4). Lee Jae-myung Wins South Korean Presidential Election. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/world/asia/south-korea-election.html
In light of Lee Jae Myung's presidential win, the EC countries may look to strengthen their policies and legislation regarding freedom of movement, as this victory could inspire similar political shifts in other democratic nations, particularly those grappling with war-and-conflicts and politics. Furthermore, general-news outlets might explore the potential impact of Lee's administration on South Korea's standing and its approach to major international issues.
