Lee Jae-myung Leads Presidential Race After Yoon Exit

Lee Jae-myung Leads Presidential Race After Yoon Exit \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Millions of South Koreans voted Tuesday in a high-stakes presidential election triggered by the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol. Liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung leads the race, pledging bold reform amid deep national division. The winner faces major challenges, including economic strain and volatile foreign relations.

Quick Looks

• Snap presidential election follows ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol
• Yoon faces trial for rebellion after martial law attempt in December
• Liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung leads polls by a wide margin
• Conservative rival Kim Moon Soo struggles to gain moderate support
• Country faces economic downturn, Trump’s trade policies, and North Korean threats
• New president to be sworn in immediately on Wednesday, no transition period
• Over 15 million voted early; millions more at polls Tuesday
• Lee promises to tackle inequality, restore democracy, and unify the nation
• Kim warns Lee could create a “Hitler-like dictatorship”
• Analysts expect limited foreign policy shifts due to fragile economy

Deep Look

South Koreans went to the polls Tuesday in a snap presidential election triggered by the dramatic ouster of President Yoon Suk Yeol, who now awaits trial on rebellion charges after attempting to impose martial law late last year. With the nation still reeling from months of political chaos, early projections show liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung poised to claim the presidency in what observers view as a turning point for the country’s democracy.

The National Election Commission reported that voting began at 6 a.m. at over 14,000 polling stations nationwide and will conclude at 8 p.m. More than 15 million South Koreans—nearly 35% of the electorate—voted during a two-day early voting period. By 8 a.m. Tuesday, over 2.5 million more had cast ballots. Preliminary results could be announced by midnight.

Lee, representing the Democratic Party, emerged as the frontrunner after spearheading the impeachment push against Yoon and channeling public outrage over the former president’s brief and unconstitutional martial law declaration in December. His campaign focuses on economic reform, social justice, and a restoration of democratic norms. In his final campaign speech, Lee urged voters to deliver a “stern and resolute judgment” against the conservative establishment.

“If they somehow win,” Lee warned, “that would mean the return of the rebellion forces, the destruction of democracy, and the normalization of martial law.”

His conservative opponent, Kim Moon Soo, a former labor minister under Yoon and candidate of the People Power Party, has struggled to galvanize support beyond the conservative base. Internal divisions within the party and its unclear stance on Yoon’s actions have alienated moderate and swing voters. At a rally in Busan, Kim accused Lee of aiming to “seize all power” and warned of the rise of a “Hitler-like dictatorship” under his rule.

Despite the heated rhetoric, experts say neither candidate is likely to radically change South Korea’s foreign policy, given growing economic concerns and pressure from U.S. tariffs and North Korea’s nuclear threats. South Korea’s central bank has already cut its 2025 growth outlook to 0.8%, citing domestic instability and external pressures such as President Donald Trump’s renewed tariffs on steel and aluminum.

On foreign relations, Lee has promised pragmatic diplomacy, affirming the U.S.-South Korea alliance and a trilateral partnership with Japan and Washington. Though historically known for sharp critiques of conservatives, he has signaled a more moderate tone, especially regarding international affairs. Trade officials held emergency talks Monday to address Trump’s proposed 50% tariff hike, which begins June 4.

While Lee backs Trump’s push to restart talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, he admits that a summit is unlikely soon, given Pyongyang’s increasing ties with Russia and continued rejection of dialogue with Seoul or Washington. Foreign policy experts like Paik Wooyeal of Yonsei University say Lee’s approach contrasts with the more nationalistic outreach seen under former liberal President Moon Jae-in, who met Kim Jong Un three times between 2017 and 2022.

Kim Moon Soo, meanwhile, has said he would prioritize U.S. relations and meet with Trump “as soon as possible,” likely favoring a more pro-Washington stance with additional concessions to ease trade tensions. Experts believe both candidates are constrained by South Korea’s financial vulnerabilities, making bold international maneuvers unlikely.

For many voters, the focus is domestic. The past six months have seen mass protests, a leadership vacuum, and volatile markets following Yoon’s ouster. As citizens brace for a new administration, hopes rest on whether the next president can heal national divides, rebuild trust, and stabilize the economy.

Unlike past elections, the winner will be sworn in immediately on Wednesday, skipping the usual two-month transition period due to the urgency of the power vacuum. The next president will face a turbulent landscape shaped by a weakened conservative bloc, global economic instability, and fragile geopolitical dynamics.

Whether Lee secures his expected victory or Kim defies the polls, one thing is clear: this election marks a defining chapter in South Korea’s modern political history.

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