South Korea just went through a surprise presidential election. It happened because things got really messy with the last president, Yoon Suk Yeol. Back in December 2024, Yoon declared martial law, which didn’t go down well at all. People protested hard, and by April 2025, the government actually impeached and removed him from office. That’s why they had to hold a snap election on June 3, 2025. Now, South Korea has a new president.
Lee Jae-myung’s Big Comeback
You might remember Lee Jae-myung — he’s from the Democratic Party and had lost the previous election to Yoon in 2022, but this time he won. The early exit polls show Lee getting about 51.7% of the vote, which is a clear lead over his main opponent, Kim Moon-soo, who got roughly 39.3%. Lee’s campaign focused on helping everyday people, fixing the economy, and making the government fairer and more balanced. Honestly, it feels like a lot of voters were ready for a change.
Voter Turnout Shows People Want Change
One of the most striking things about this election was how many people actually showed up to vote — over 78% of eligible voters took part, which is really high, especially for a snap election. That says a lot about how much this moment mattered to South Koreans. After all the political chaos, they clearly wanted their voices heard loud and clear.
What’s Next for Lee Jae-myung?
Because this was a snap election, Lee won’t have the usual couple of months to get ready — he’ll step into the presidency right away. He’s got a lot on his plate:
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Fixing the economy
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Expanding support for welfare programs
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Changing how presidential powers work to avoid the problems that led to the last crisis
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Keeping good relations with the U.S. and Japan
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Handling tricky talks with North Korea carefully
Also, Lee will represent South Korea at an important NATO summit very soon, so he’ll be jumping straight into big international issues.
Why This Election Matters
This isn’t just about one guy winning. It’s about a whole country trying to heal after a political shake-up and move forward. People inside South Korea and around the world are watching closely because what Lee does next could really shape the country’s future — hopefully for the better, with more stability and fairness.
