04.06.2025 00:22
In the early presidential elections held in South Korea, the main opposition party won after 12 years. The Democratic Party's candidate, Lee Jae-myung, became the new president by receiving approximately 49.29% of the votes.
The presidential elections held in South Korea were won by the candidate of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), Lee Jae-myung, according to unofficial results.
THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATE BECAME PRESIDENT IN SOUTH KOREA The voting process, which started at 06:00 local time to determine the new name to fill the seat left vacant by the ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol, has ended. After the elections in South Korea, which has approximately 44 million registered voters, 95.11% of the ballots have been counted.
According to unofficial results, the opposition candidate Lee received 49.29% of the votes, while Kim Moon-soo from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) received 41.34%. As Lee becomes the new president, the main opposition has won the elections after 12 years. Since the elections were held due to the ousting of the president, the newly elected president will immediately take office after the oath ceremony to be held in the National Assembly tomorrow, without a transition period.
Lee Jae-myung On the other hand, Kim, the candidate of the PPP, accepted the defeat in a statement to the press. Kim stated, "Despite the crises faced, South Korea has continued to make great progress with the power of its people. I congratulate the elected candidate Lee Jae-myung."
WHO IS LEE JAE-MYUNG? Lee Jae-myung, the candidate of the main opposition Democratic Party, began his political career in 2005. Serving as the Mayor of Seongnam from 2010 to 2018 and as the Governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2018 to 2021, Lee implemented policies such as financial aid for youth, free school uniforms, and social welfare programs during his tenure.
Lee narrowly lost to his rival Yoon Suk Yeol in the presidential elections held in 2022. Lee, who was attacked in an assassination attempt by being stabbed in the neck at an event he attended on Gadeok Island in Busan at the beginning of 2024, described this incident as a turning point for ending hatred in politics.
Lee also played a significant role in the removal of then-President Yoon, who declared martial law in December 2024, opposing the decision.
YOON'S DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW AND IMPEACHMENT PROCESS Then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3, 2024, citing "the opposition's involvement in anti-state activities," but had to backtrack after the parliament voted to lift this decision and the Cabinet's approval. In the vote held by the National Assembly on December 14, 2024, Yoon, whose impeachment was requested, was temporarily suspended from duty until the Constitutional Court made a decision regarding him.
The Constitutional Court, in its decision made on April 4 after the trial, accepted the National Assembly's request for impeachment and approved Yoon's removal from office due to the declaration of martial law. The court decided that early elections to determine the new president should be held within 60 days and set June 3 as the election date.