Left Lee Jae Myung becomes the new President of South Korea
The left politician Lee Jae Myung won the presidential election in South Korea. According to the counting of almost all voices, the opposition politician is clearly ahead of the conservative candidate Kim Moon Soo, according to the official news agency Yonhap. According to Yonhap, 73-year-old Kim had already admitted his election defeat.
According to Yonhap, Lee was initially with 48.4 percent of the votes ahead of Kim, who had received 42.8 percent. At the time, around 88 percent of the votes were counted. The final result is expected in the morning (local time). The turnout was extremely high at 79.4 percent.
The South Koreans voted for a political change of direction. Lee comes from the left opposition camp and is a opponent of the conservative ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol, who plunged the East Asian country into a multi-month state crisis at the end of 2024.
What the removal of Yoons for the future of South Korea means
In December, Yoon surprisingly imposed the war law that was revived by Parliament a little later. At the beginning of April, he was released from the office, and is currently responsible for treason. With the president’s new election, who, as head of government and the top commander, has great power powers, the state crisis of the past few months should be finally sealed.
Approach to China and North Korea?
Election winner Lee Jae Myung promises a political beginning. In terms of foreign policy, he supports a diplomatic approach to North Korea and China. Economically, he would like to force a sustainable energy change and strengthen government investments in artificial intelligence and other future technologies. Lee Jae Myung is also considered an advocate of employee interests.
His biography is that of a classic climber. Born as fifth of seven children in bitter poverty, his father only registered him with a clear delay with the authorities. His exact date of birth is therefore unknown: According to the official information, Lee is 60 years old, but some media assume 61 years.
As a teenager, Lee Jae Myung worked in factories to make a living. He suffered several injuries; Including a broken wrist, which led to a sustainable disability. Lee Jae Myung later made a name for himself as a human rights lawyer and put a steep career as a politician. He served as governor of the South Korean province of Gyeonggi by 2021.
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Head of state of great challenges
Despite its popularity in the left camp, Lee Jae Myung is by no means undisputed. The new President of South Korea had to struggle with legal scandals until the end. Lee almost cost his presidential candidacy for violations of violations of the right to vote.
Now, as head of state, he is facing huge challenges. In the first quarter, the South Korean gross domestic product surprisingly shrank by 0.2 percent, and the threatened tariffs of US President Donald Trump cloud the economic prospects of the export nation. South Korean society is also heavily divided in terms of domestic policies. The cracks run between the ideological camps, generations and genders.
Five points that you should know about South Korea’s election winner
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That is why the choice is of historical importance:
Exactly half a year ago, the young democracy of South Korea was existentially threatened. Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol surprisingly excluded war law and sent special units of the army to parliament.The Yoon, which has since been released by the office, justified its measure with the protection of the free order of the country, which is allegedly endangered by a communist -infiltrated opposition. However, most South Koreans were of the opinion that South Korea threatened to fall back into its authoritarian past. In this respect, the new elections were primarily about sealing the multi -month state crisis.
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This is South Korea’s new President Lee Jae Myung:
Lee’s promoted biography impressively reflects South Korea’s rise. He grew up in such poor circumstances that his exact date of birth is still unknown – his father had only significantly noticed the little Lee with the authorities. According to official information, Lee Jae Myung is therefore 60 years old, but most media assume 61 years.In his youth, the South Korean worked in factories under exploitial conditions. During that time he suffered several serious work injuries that Lee still affects health. But with his pronounced thirst for knowledge, the teenager made the jump to the university, after graduation he made a name for himself as a human rights lawyer.
In the political company, Lee was primarily considered a left -wing outsider with partly radical ideas. He was the first known politician to demand an unconditional basic income – an idea that caused a sensation in South Korea. In the current election campaign, Lee clearly moderated his positions in order to also address the voters of the political center.
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These challenges are now waiting for President Lee:
South Korea’s population is currently more polarized than ever. The social divisions run between the political camps as well as genders and generations. At the same time, the country faces economically major problems. In the last quarter, the country’s gross domestic product has even shrunk surprisingly. In addition, there are the tariffs announced by Donald Trump, which would particularly hit the export nation. The East Asian tiger state also has to struggle with a rapid demographic change: in no other state in the world, the birth rate is so low. -
That means LEES election victory for South Korea’s relationships with abroad:
Compared to the conservative Predecessor Yoon Suk Yeolthat led a tough course opposite North Korea, Lee Jae Myung is looking for a diplomatic approach. He also wants to improve bilateral relationships compared to China, but without endangering the security alliance with the United States, which is important for South Korea.From a European perspective, it becomes particularly important how Lee positions itself in Russia. In the past, among other things, he had spoken in favor of not « antagonizing » Moscow. It will be shown whether this means that South Korea travels its political support towards Ukraine.
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This is how it goes for South Korea:
Lee Jae Myung is already being praised on Wednesday (local time). As a South Korean president, he is equipped with an impressive wealth of power: he not only leads the government, but is also commander -in -chief of the armed forces. He should not be re -elected – his term of office is limited to a five -year legislative period.
