Photo: Daniel Ceng – Anadolu Agency
South Korean Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung won the early presidential election, which was a direct response to the martial law imposed by ousted leader Yun Seok-yol in December last year. According to the Central Election Commission, Lee received 49.42% of the vote, beating the conservative People’s Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo with 41.15%. This was reported by Reuters.
More than 80% of the 44 million voters cast ballots, the highest turnout since 1997. Lee himself called the election day a “day of judgement” for his predecessor’s authoritarian policies. In his victory speech, he promised to “restore public confidence in the government” and “develop the country for all, not just a select few”.
Elections amid political turbulence
Elections became inevitable after Yun Seok-yol declared martial law in December 2024, a decision that sparked mass protests, arrests, three interim governments, and eventually impeachment and resignation. The Constitutional Court declared the martial law decree unconstitutional, and the Democratic Party-controlled parliament called for early elections.
Kim Moon-soo, who served as labour minister during Yoon’s rule, conceded defeat and congratulated Lee on his victory. However, during the campaign, he called Lee a “dictator” and his party a “monster that seeks to rewrite laws in its own favour”.
What will change?
Lee Jae-myung promised to reform social policy, support low-income families and reduce economic inequality. At the same time, he does not plan a radical turnaround in foreign policy: he will maintain strategic partnerships with the United States and Japan, but seeks greater dialogue with China and North Korea.
The new president will also have to tackle pressing challenges such as falling exports, polarisation of society and youth disillusionment. For the first time in 18 years, there were no female candidates in the election, and analysts say the issue of gender equality was hardly raised in the campaign.
“We are not divided by party affiliation or the past – we are united by the desire to see Korea just, strong and free,” Lee said in his first address to the nation as president-elect.
