South Korean opposition leader Lee steps down as party head in preparations for potential presidential bid
Article Rewrite
South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party's leader, Lee Jae-myung, quit his position on a Wednesday, setting the stage for a potential presidential run. Picture: VCG
Lee, a leading figure in South Korea's Democratic Party (DP), decided to step down from his post on April 9, 2025, to adhere to party norms demanding candidates to vacate leadership positions before contesting for the presidency. His departure paves the way for a presidential bid in the hastily scheduled election on June 3, catalyzed by the impeachment and ousting of former President Yoon Suk Yeol due to his controversial martial law declaration in December 2024[1][2].
Presidential Bid Prospects
Lee is generally perceived as the frontrunner for the DP's nomination. A March 2025 poll revealed a staggering 85.5% support among DP voters[3]. At a national level, 49.6% of those surveyed backed the DP's candidate (presumably Lee) compared to 29.5% supporting the People Power Party's nominee[3]. However, Lee's campaign encounters obstacles in the form of ongoing scandals, with the Seongnam land development controversy reemerging from his tenure as mayor[2]. This election represents a replay after Lee missed the top spot to Yoon in 2022 by a marginal 0.73 percentage points[2][3].
Lee portrayed his resignation as a reaction to economic unrest, denouncing acting President Han Duck-soo's constitutional court justice nominations as overstepping presidential powers during an interim period[1]. Positioning himself as a leader capable of quelling "Yoon's uprising," he aims to harness public dissatisfaction with the former administration's policies.
- Following his resignation from the Democratic Party (DP) leadership on April 9, 2025, Lee Jae-myung prepares for a presidential bid in the hastily scheduled election on June 3.
- In the March 2025 poll, Lee is perceived as the frontrunner, boasting an impressive 85.5% support among DP voters and 49.6% nationwide compared to the People Power Party's nominee.
- Lee's resignation as the DP leader and his presidential bid are influenced by economic unrest and his criticism of the acting President Han Duck-soo's constitutional court justice nominations during the interim period.
