Who Is Lee Jae-myung, South Korea’s New President Leading A Progressive Shift Amid Political Turmoil

In a significant political development in East Asia, South Korea has elected Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party as its new President, following a snap election triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Lee on his victory, stating in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “Heartiest congratulations to Lee Jae-myung on being elected President of the Republic of Korea. I look forward to working closely with him to further deepen the India-Korea Special Strategic Partnership.”

As per a report by South Korean news agency Yunhap , Lee’s election, with nearly 49.4 per cent of the vote, marks a return of progressive politics in Seoul after a tumultuous period of political instability.

His campaign struck a chord with voters fatigued by conservative rule and allegations of authoritarian overreach under Yoon’s presidency, which ended following an attempted imposition of emergency rule and a failed crackdown on political dissent.

Born in 1963 in the rural town of Andong, Lee Jae-myung's journey to the presidency is steeped in personal hardship.

As a lawyer, he gained prominence advocating for workers’ rights and anti-corruption measures.

Lee entered politics as Mayor of Seongnam in 2010 and later served as Governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2018 to 2021, where he earned praise for his welfare schemes and housing policies. Although he narrowly lost the 2022 presidential race, he remained a central figure in South Korean politics and returned this year to secure a landslide victory amid a national crisis.

He assumes office facing considerable challenges—economic headwinds, regional security concerns involving North Korea, and the task of healing a politically polarised nation. He is also under investigation in multiple legal cases related to past election campaigns, though he has denied all wrongdoing.

Lee’s commitments suggest an intention to restore democratic norms, increase youth employment, and to re-engage with South Korea’s allies—including India—where bilateral ties have reportedly deepened in recent years.