Lee Jae-myung Wins Party Nomination for South Korea’s Presidential Election

Report By Safarti Tarjuman International Desk

Lee Jae-myung, the liberal leader advocating for greater economic equality and closer ties with North Korea, has secured his nomination as the presidential candidate for South Korea’s Democratic Party. The nomination places him in a strong position to succeed the recently ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol in the upcoming presidential election on June 3.

In a decisive win, Lee, 60, garnered nearly 90% of the votes in the party’s primary held on Sunday, defeating two other competitors. His victory came after a highly charged period in South Korean politics, which saw President Yoon’s impeachment following his controversial imposition of martial law last December. Yoon’s removal by the Constitutional Court earlier this month paved the way for a snap election.

In his victory speech, Lee expressed gratitude for the opportunity given by the people and party members, stating, “Now, the people and our party colleagues gave me an opportunity to win back the presidency of Korea. Thank you! I’ll humbly uphold that ardent, serious task.”

Lee has a strong political background, having served as the governor of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea’s most populous region, as well as the mayor of Seongnam city. His leadership and policy focus on social equality and diplomatic engagement with North Korea have made him a prominent figure in the country’s politics.

Recent polling data shows Lee as the front-runner in the race. According to a Gallup Korea poll, 38% of respondents expressed support for Lee, far ahead of any other candidate. In contrast, the People Power Party, South Korea’s main conservative opposition, is still finalizing its candidate for the election, with the top contenders receiving a combined 23% of support.

This will mark Lee’s third attempt to run for president. In 2022, he narrowly lost to Yoon in what became one of the closest presidential elections in South Korea’s history. He also competed in the 2017 Democratic Party primary but finished third. Lee’s strong position in the polls and his commanding win in the primary position him as a leading contender for South Korea’s highest office.

As the election approaches, all eyes will be on how Lee’s platform on economic reform and diplomacy with North Korea resonate with voters, particularly as the country deals with the fallout from President Yoon’s controversial administration.