Republic of Korea - June 2025
Former opposition leader Lee Jae-myung wins snap presidential election
On 3 June, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea secured a landslide victory in South Korea’s presidential election. The election came six months after former President Yoon Seok-Yul declared martial law and was later impeached. Lee received 49.2 per cent of the vote, while Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party conceded upon receiving 41.2 per cent of the vote. Voter turnout was estimated at 79.4 per cent, up from 77.1 per cent in the previous 2022 election, marking the highest turnout for a presidential election since 1997. Election observers commended the National Election Commission for taking measures to ensure inclusive and accessible voting.
Sources: ANFREL, CSIS, The Korea Herald
