In a victory that marks both a personal triumph and a profound moment in South Korea’s political history, Lee Jae-myung has been elected President, bringing with him a backstory that echoes the journey of an entire nation. From an impoverished childhood amid the industrial awakening of the 1960s to the apex of political power, Lee’s ascent captures the resilience and ambition of a country that has transformed from war-torn destitution to a technological and economic powerhouse.
Lee’s landslide victory on Tuesday, following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, is more than a political event. It is the culmination of a life story that resonates deeply in a nation still grappling with the legacy of its past and the turbulence of its present.
Lee Jae-myung was born in 1963, a time when South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world, its per capita GDP comparable to that of sub-Saharan Africa. His exact birth date remains uncertain — a common occurrence in an era when infant mortality was so high that parents often delayed official registration until they were sure their children would survive.
The fifth of seven children in a family of laborers, Lee’s early life was steeped in hardship. His father worked odd jobs, including bricklaying and peddling, and Lee himself was thrust into the workforce in his early teens. The family eventually relocated to Seongnam, a satellite city of Seoul, where Lee began working in factories, one of which produced baseball gloves. A tragic accident in one of those factories at the age of 15 left him permanently unable to straighten his left arm — a physical reminder of the perilous lives led by many South Korean youth during that era of rapid industrialization.
“Poverty is not a sin,” Lee said in a poignant 2022 speech. “But I was always particularly sensitive to the injustices I experienced because of poverty.”
Denied the luxury of a full-time education, Lee pursued his studies during off-hours. He passed his middle and high school equivalency exams while working full-time. In 1982, he secured a spot at Seoul’s Chung-Ang University to study law — a feat that would set the foundation for his future in public life.
Lee passed the bar in 1986 and soon began practicing law, not in the plush offices of Seoul’s elite, but in service of South Korea’s most vulnerable. He took on cases involving industrial accidents and fought against the forced evictions that were rampant during South Korea’s urban redevelopment boom. His clientele was composed of people like himself — marginalized, struggling, and often invisible to the establishment.
It was this phase that cemented Lee’s reputation as a fierce advocate for social justice and laid the ideological groundwork for the populist policies he would later champion.
Lee’s entry into politics was not a swift or easy path. He first ran for mayor of Seongnam in 2006 and for a parliamentary seat in 2008, both times without success. But in 2010, he finally captured the mayoral seat of Seongnam, and his re-election in 2014 confirmed his political durability.
As mayor and later as governor of Gyeonggi Province (2018–2021), Lee made waves with policies that would earn him national attention and controversy in equal measure. He implemented pilot versions of universal basic income, championed free school uniforms and sanitary pads for girls, and invested heavily in public housing and local infrastructure.
While critics decried his methods as fiscally reckless or overly populist, his supporters saw in him a rare breed of politician — one who acted decisively and did not shy away from contentious reforms.
Lee’s first serious bid for the presidency came in 2022, where he narrowly lost to Yoon Suk-yeol by a razor-thin margin of 0.73%, the closest result in South Korean electoral history. The defeat, however, did little to diminish his popularity. On the contrary, it solidified his image as a tough, resilient figure willing to confront both the elite and entrenched political powers.
His second attempt at the presidency came in the wake of a national crisis. President Yoon’s declaration of martial law in December, seen as a brazen overreach of executive power, triggered widespread protests and his eventual impeachment. Lee’s Democratic Party, already riding high after securing 173 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, quickly rallied behind him. He won the party’s nomination with nearly 90% of the vote — a testament to both his dominance within the party and the broader public’s yearning for stability and social reform.
Lee’s rise has not been without blemish. Over the past few years, he has faced a barrage of legal troubles — five criminal investigations ranging from election law violations to allegations of breach of trust in connection with a land development scandal. Conservative media outlets and political adversaries have portrayed him as a manipulative opportunist who plays fast and loose with the rules.
Yet, none of these accusations have stuck, at least not conclusively. With his election now secure, Lee benefits from presidential immunity, shielding him from prosecution unless in cases of treason or insurrection. Although this immunity does not officially dismiss ongoing cases, the Democratic Party recently passed a bill suspending criminal proceedings for elected presidents, effectively defanging legal threats to Lee’s tenure.
Critics argue that the amendment weakens South Korea’s rule of law, while supporters see it as a necessary corrective to politically motivated prosecutions. Either way, Lee’s ability to weather these storms has only reinforced his reputation as a political survivor.
During his campaign, Lee deliberately moderated his tone. While he remained true to his populist roots, he recast himself as a “progressive pragmatist.” Rather than hardline ideological promises, his platform centered on practical reforms aimed at improving quality of life and ensuring economic competitiveness.
His major policy proposals:
- A four-and-a-half-day workweek to reduce burnout and stimulate employment.
- Major investments in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure to future-proof the economy.
- Tax incentives for parents to address South Korea’s demographic crisis — one of the world’s lowest birth rates.
- Expansion of affordable housing and public health care.
- A revision of the national pension system to secure long-term solvency.
In foreign policy, Lee promises continuity with nuanced shifts. He has vowed to maintain the U.S.-South Korea alliance while improving ties with China and Russia, reflecting Seoul’s delicate geopolitical balancing act. On North Korea, he supports re-engagement and dialogue, while emphasizing eventual denuclearization — a standard position among Democrats.
“His communication style is direct and straightforward,” said Lee Myung-hee, a political scientist at Michigan State University. “He is astute at recognizing social and political trends, which is a rare quality among Korean politicians. However, his bluntness can sometimes hinder coalition-building.”
Lee inherits a nation beset by polarization. Yoon Suk-yeol’s impeachment exposed deep rifts in South Korean society — between conservatives and progressives, the old guard and the new, the wealthy elite and working poor.
Public trust in institutions has eroded amid political scandals, economic inequality, and generational divides. Young South Koreans are disillusioned by skyrocketing housing prices and stagnant wages. Older citizens, meanwhile, fear a loss of traditional values and national identity.
Bridging these divides will be Lee’s most formidable challenge.
“The Korean political landscape remains highly polarised and confrontational,” said Professor Lee of Michigan State. “His ability to navigate this environment will be crucial to his success.”
Internationally, Lee must also contend with a volatile global order. The wars in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as the resurgence of protectionism under Donald Trump’s second term in the U.S., have upended conventional diplomacy and trade. South Korea, heavily reliant on global exports, must recalibrate its economic strategy to remain competitive.
Lee Jae-myung’s presidency represents both the best and the most complicated parts of South Korea’s democratic evolution. His personal story — born into poverty, injured in youth, legally embattled yet undeterred — mirrors the nation’s path from war ruin to global relevance.
He is not without flaws. His aggressive style, populist leanings, and legal baggage ensure that he will remain a divisive figure. But for millions of South Koreans who feel left behind by economic growth or alienated by elite politics, Lee offers something rare: a leader who understands their struggle because he has lived it.
As he prepares to take office, the eyes of the nation — and the world — will be on how this factory worker-turned-president governs. Can he transform personal resilience into national renewal? Can he unite a divided country and chart a course through global uncertainty?
