South Korea Elects New President Amid Crisis; Lee Jae-myung Leads Over Kim Moon Soo

South Korea Elects New President Amid Crisis; Lee Jae-myung Leads Over Kim Moon Soo

Last Updated Jun - 03 - 2025, 05:51 PM | Source : Fela News

In a high-stakes snap election, South Korea is set for immediate leadership transition. Liberal Lee Jae-myung leads over conservative Kim Moon Soo following Pre

In South Korea’s presidential election held on Tuesday (June 3, 2025), the winner will assume office immediately, bypassing the usual two-month transition, to serve a full five-year term. This accelerated shift in leadership comes amid rising political tensions and pressing external challenges, including escalating U.S. tariffs and growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Current polls show liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung holding a steady lead over his conservative rival Kim Moon Soo. The election was called after President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted following his controversial martial law declaration in December.

Lee Jae-myung: The Liberal Frontrunner Who Led Yoon's Impeachment

Lee Jae-myung, 60, representing the Democratic Party, spearheaded the movement to remove former President Yoon. When Yoon abruptly declared martial law on December 3 in a televised announcement, Lee initially believed it was a deepfake. Upon confirming its authenticity, he mobilized his party’s lawmakers to the National Assembly to nullify the decree, even livestreaming his movements and encouraging public protest. Ultimately, lawmakers entered the assembly and overturned the order, with Yoon's deployed troops reportedly reluctant to intervene. Lee later led the vote to impeach Yoon, a decision upheld by the Constitutional Court in April.

In a book released in April, Lee wrote, “The rebellion was subdued, and Yoon Suk Yeol was dismissed. The long, harsh winter is over, and spring has returned. The people have prevailed.”

This marks Lee’s third attempt at the presidency. He narrowly lost the 2022 election to Yoon in the closest contest in South Korea’s history. Lee has previously served as governor of Gyeonggi Province and as mayor of Seongnam, near Seoul. He positions himself as a competent leader capable of revitalizing the economy, bridging domestic divides, and restoring peace on the Korean Peninsula.

In his first official campaign speech on May 12, Lee stated, “Give me a chance as President, and I will show you the transformative power of one determined public servant.”

Lee’s rise from poverty—having left school to work in factories where he sustained an arm injury—to passing South Korea’s rigorous bar exam and becoming a human rights lawyer has bolstered his image as a self-made reformer. Still, conservatives accuse him of being a divisive populist prone to reneging on promises. While his party currently controls the National Assembly, analysts believe Lee will still need centrist support to govern effectively.

He currently faces five criminal trials for alleged corruption and other offenses, though a presidential victory would shield him from most legal proceedings due to immunity.

Kim Moon Soo: The Conservative Veteran with a Complex Past

Kim Moon Soo, 73, a staunch conservative and former Labour Minister under Yoon, was not initially expected to make a strong bid. However, he became the conservatives’ standard-bearer after resisting a Democratic lawmaker’s call for the Cabinet to apologize for Yoon’s martial law decree—a move that catapulted him into the national spotlight.

Though party leaders later tried to replace him with independent former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Kim retained his candidacy following an internal vote. Afterward, Kim knelt publicly to apologize for the party infighting and called for unity, saying, “From today, we are one team. Let’s fight and win together.”

Kim has pledged to strengthen missile defense and deepen U.S. security commitments in response to North Korea’s nuclear advancements. He also plans to ease business regulations and cut corporate and inheritance taxes.

A prominent pro-democracy and labor activist in the 1970s and ’80s, Kim was expelled from Seoul National University and imprisoned for anti-government activities. He switched allegiances in 1994, joining a conservative party—a move that drew criticism from his former activist peers, who viewed him as a defector to their cause. Kim has said he abandoned revolutionary ideals after witnessing the collapse of communist regimes.

He served as governor of Gyeonggi Province and held three terms in the National Assembly, but suffered electoral defeats in later years. He returned to government as Labour Minister in 2024.

On the campaign trail, Kim praised former authoritarian President Park Chung-hee, despite once opposing him. “In my youth, I was against President Park Chung-hee. But now I see I was mistaken,” Kim said. “I once spat at his grave, but today I lay flowers before it.”

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