Just hours after securing victory in the South Korean presidential election, Lee Jae-myung vowed to “unite the people” during his inauguration address on Wednesday.
The 61-year-old clinched a snap election win with 49.4%, representing a decisive rejection of his opponent, Kim Moon-soo, who is from the same party as the impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol.
Yoon instigated months of political upheaval by attempting to impose martial law, ultimately leading to his impeachment.
As he steps into the presidency, Lee faces the challenging task of unifying the nation while navigating relationships with its key ally, the US, under President Trump’s unpredictable diplomatic style.
In a pointed reference to his predecessor, the Democratic Party’s Lee asserted that he would “never again” tolerate threats to democratic institutions, pledging to be a president who will end the politics of division.
Speaking before a gathering at parliament – where merely six months prior he had scale the perimeter to vote down Yoon’s martial law proposal – Lee attributed the country’s political strife to “political factions uninterested in the welfare of the citizens.”
He also committed to establishing a “flexible, pragmatic government” and declared that an emergency economic task force would be “activated immediately.”
This marks a significant comeback for a man entangled in various political scandals, including corruption allegations and family disputes, although analysts indicate that his victory capitalized on public frustration.
“The public viewed the December 3 martial law [incident] as a breach of democracy,” National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik told BBC Korean in an exclusive interview.
“This election was not only a judgement on that matter but also an expression of citizens’ demands for the restoration of democratic values.”
Woo concluded that the result was “a fair representation of the people’s will” and “clearly underscored the public’s intent.”
Park Sung-min, president of Min Consulting, echoed this sentiment, stating that voters were not necessarily providing strong support for Lee’s platform, but rather reacting against what they perceived as a decline in democracy.
“The election served as a means for expressing anger… [and] was a clear admonition to the ruling party, which was complicit in or directly responsible for the martial law measures,” he noted.
Crowds of Lee’s supporters gathered in front of parliament on Wednesday, eager to catch a glimpse of their new president, with many expressing excitement about his potential achievements.
“I’m thrilled he was elected – I waited here all night to witness the inauguration ceremony,” said Leo Kil, a software engineer.
“I believe he will honor his promises of creating a fair society. I hope South Korea becomes a nation where those who err face justice and laws are enforced fairly. My expectations are very high.”
Yoo Gi-won, another supporter of Lee, remarked, “Yoon’s presidency made me feel like the country was on the brink of collapse. I observed so many people around me suffering.”
“For too long South Korea was a cold place, but now I’m incredibly happy,” he added.
However, as the initial excitement diminishes, Lee will confront a challenging reality.
He is still undergoing a Supreme Court trial for allegedly breaching election laws. The court delayed the trial until after the election to prevent interference, as a conviction could have disqualified Lee from running.
It’s uncertain what the outcome would be if Lee is found guilty; however, the law states that sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted for criminal offenses, except for insurrection or treason.
An even greater challenge is uniting a nation marred by significant anger and division.
“Years of growing polarization during both the previous Moon and Yoon administrations have left South Korea’s political landscape in a state of bitterness,” Mr. Park observed.
“While Lee may advocate for national unity, he is faced with a critical dilemma: how to pursue accountability for what many perceive as an attempted insurrection without exacerbating the divisions he seeks to mend.”
Despite the PPP’s defeat, ex-President Yoon retains a strong and vocal support base, which is unlikely to dissipate soon.
His supporters, primarily young male voters and the elderly, frequently espouse strong right-wing narratives, many believing that his martial law declaration was essential for the nation’s protection.
Many also propagate conspiracy theories, convinced that Yoon’s party fell victim to electoral fraud.
With Yoon’s departure, questions arise about who will fill the void for this predominantly young, male demographic.
One notable figure is Lee Jun-seok, who previously competed in the presidential race but withdrew on Tuesday when polls showed he was trailing significantly.
He has garnered particular appeal among many young men for his anti-feminist views, reminiscent of Yoon’s presidency, during which gender equality became a contentious topic.
Young men in their 30s participated in higher numbers than usual in this election, partly attracted by candidates like Lee Jun-seok.
Voter turnout soared to 79.4%—the highest since 1997—driven by those seeking accountability from the PPP-led government and others wishing to see Lee Jae-myung’s presidency fail.
In this political atmosphere, Lee aims to transform public discontent into optimism.
How—and whether—he can achieve this remains to be seen.
Additional reporting by Woongbee Lee, Richard Kim, and Haeryun Kang