South Korea’s center-left leader Lee Jae-myung was declared president on Wednesday after winning a snap election, taking charge of a nation deeply divided following his predecessor’s failed attempt to impose martial law.
Lee secured a decisive victory over conservative Kim Moon-soo, representing the party of disgraced former president Yoon Suk Yeol. His term began immediately once the National Election Commission confirmed the vote count early Wednesday.
Unlike regular presidential elections, which include a lengthy transition period, Lee’s term started without delay due to the snap election triggered by Yoon’s impeachment.
“The National Election Commission hereby declares Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party as the elected president,” said Roh Tae-ak, chair of the commission, early Wednesday.
Kim conceded hours earlier as results showed he had no chance of winning.
Lee takes office facing numerous challenges, including slow economic growth, a global trade war, and growing concerns over military cooperation between nuclear-armed North Korea and Russia.
He must also lead a country still shaken by the unrest caused by Yoon’s martial law attempt last December and the rise of far-right groups, which experts say has unsettled South Korea’s democratic foundations.
Addressing supporters early Wednesday, Lee called on South Koreans to move “forward with hope and make a fresh start from this moment on.”
“Though we may have clashed for a while, even those who did not support us remain fellow citizens of the Republic of Korea,” he added.
He pledged to “pursue dialogue, communication, and cooperation” with North Korea, with whom South Korea remains technically at war, aiming for “peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity.”
On his first day, Lee is expected to receive a traditional phone briefing from the military’s top commander to formally confirm the transfer of operational control.
He will likely visit the National Cemetery, a tradition upheld by previous presidents, including Yoon.
A modest inauguration is planned at the National Assembly — the same location where Yoon deployed troops during his martial law attempt.
The ceremony will be low-key, with only a few hundred guests, contrasting with the large public gatherings usually held after regular elections.
Following the ceremony, Lee will move to the presidential office to begin appointing key cabinet officials.
Yoon had relocated the presidential office from the traditional Blue House to a converted government building in Yongsan, which Lee has stated he will not use.
Attention will focus on who Lee selects as presidential chief of staff, prime minister, and head of the National Intelligence Service.
The day is expected to conclude with numerous congratulatory calls from world leaders, with US President Donald Trump expected to be among the first to call.
For many voters, including 20-year-old Noh Min-young, who protested against Yoon’s martial law attempt, the election brought relief and hope for national recovery.
“I’m just glad now. There’s no risk of the result being overturned, and the margin is enough to maintain momentum in resolving the unrest and implementing policies,” she told AFP.
Experts caution that Lee’s victory, after losing to Yoon in 2022, owes as much to his opponents’ weaknesses as to his strengths. Kim suffered from political infighting and a divided conservative vote, split by a third-party candidate.
Lee is also expected to shift South Korea’s foreign policy significantly. Gi-Wook Shin, a sociology professor at Stanford University, told AFP that Lee will prioritise the US alliance while seeking engagement with both China and North Korea.
This approach differs from past leaders, including Yoon, who primarily focused on North Korea and the US, respectively.
