Lee Jae-myung secured the nomination of South Korea's Democratic Party of Korea on Sunday, positioning himself as the frontrunner in the June 3 snap presidential election following President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment.
In an acceptance speech after winning nearly 90% of the primary vote, Lee declared, "From this point on, Lee Jae-myung is not only the candidate of the Democratic Party, but also the candidate of all the people yearning for the end of insurrection, an overcoming of the crisis, for those who seek unity and happiness." He vowed to strengthen South Korea's defense capabilities and transform the nation into a global leader in high-tech industries, culture, and democracy.
Lee has led opinion polls by double-digit margins over prospective candidates from the conservative People Power Party, which is scheduled to nominate its candidate on May 3. His nomination follows his leadership in the Democratic Party's landslide victory in the 2024 parliamentary elections.
The 61-year-old former governor of Gyeonggi Province narrowly lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon in the closest margin in South Korea's democratic history. Lee played a prominent role in the impeachment process, comparing Yoon's December 3 martial law declaration to actions by past authoritarian leaders. Lee pledged to guide the country out of political and economic turmoil.
In December, Lee rushed to the National Assembly during Yoon's martial law declaration, joining lawmakers to block the military order amid reports of troops encircling the legislative building. The Constitutional Court ruled earlier this month to remove Yoon from office, triggering the snap election.
While Lee's political career has been marked by a strong anti-establishment stance and advocacy for economic equality, it has also been shadowed by legal challenges. He currently faces five criminal trials, including charges related to bribery and a $1 billion property development scandal. Earlier this year, an appeals court overturned his guilty verdict on election law violations, though the Supreme Court is reviewing the case.
If elected president, Lee would receive immunity from prosecution during his term, delaying the ongoing trials.
Lee, a former mayor of Seongnam, has built his national profile through a mix of populist policies and promises to ease tensions with North Korea. He survived a knife attack last year while touring a proposed airport site in Busan, an incident that raised public sympathy during a critical period in his political resurgence.
