South Korea has a new president. On June 3, 2025, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party was elected president following a snap election triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. Lee secured 49.42% of the vote, defeating conservative rival Kim Moon-soo, who garnered 41.15%. The voter turnout reached 77.8%, the highest since 1997.
Lee’s election marks a significant political shift in South Korea, ending a tumultuous period marked by Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law in December 2024, which led to mass protests and his eventual impeachment. Lee, a former human rights lawyer and long-time opposition leader, has pledged to revitalize the economy, promote peace with North Korea, and bridge the country’s domestic political divide. His presidency begins immediately, without the usual transition period, as he was sworn in Today. (Reuters)
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