Lee Jae-myung wins South Korean presidential election

The new president will inherit a fragile economy battered by US tariffs, a divided electorate and an urgent need to restore international confidence

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Lee Jae-myung speaks to his supporters in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 7:11pm, 3 Jun 2025Updated: 10:21am, 4 Jun 2025

South Korea’s liberal opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung was elected president on Wednesday, in a snap poll that followed months of political turmoil.

Speaking to supporters gathered outside parliament before his victory was formally declared, Lee said he would not forget that the duty of a president was to unite the people. He also said he would find a way for the country to coexist with North Korea through dialogue and communication.

Conservative rival Kim Moon-soo, from the People Power Party, conceded before the final tally, telling reporters that he “humbly accepts [the] people’s choice” and congratulating his opponent.

With all ballots counted, Lee obtained 49.42 per cent of the votes while Kim trailed with 41.15 per cent. A second conservative candidate, Lee Jun-seok, garnered 8.34 per cent.

About 78 per cent of South Korea’s 44.39 million eligible voters had cast ballots to pick the leader of Asia’s fourth-largest economy, hoping to draw to a close six months of turmoil triggered by former president Yoon Suk-yeol’s brief imposition of martial law.

South Korea’s president-elect Lee Jae-myung and his wife, Kim Hea-kyung, celebrate outside the National Assembly in Seoul on Wednesday. Photo: AP

After being impeached by parliament in December, Yoon was removed from office by the Constitutional Court on April 4, less than three years into his five-year term, triggering the snap election.

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