SEOUL: On Sunday (Apr 27), South Korea’s main opposition party, the Democratic Party of Korea, selected Lee Jae-myung, its former leader, as the candidate for the upcoming snap presidential election set for Jun 3.
Lee has consistently topped opinion polls for weeks, holding a significant lead over candidates from the conservative People Power Party, which will announce its candidate on May 3.
In his acceptance speech after securing the nomination, Lee stated, “From this moment, I am not just the Democratic Party’s candidate, but also the candidate representing all those longing for an end to turmoil, a way to overcome crises, and for those seeking unity and happiness.”
He expressed intentions to enhance South Korea’s defense systems and aims to position the country as a leader in high-tech sectors, a center of cultural influence, and a model of democracy.
Lee previously led the Democratic Party to a significant victory in the 2024 parliamentary elections and was anticipated to win the primary comfortably, as he outperformed two other party candidates in regional primaries.
At 61, this lawyer-turned-politician narrowly lost the last presidential election in 2022, marking the closest race in South Korean democratic history.
That election concluded with Yoon Suk Yeol as the victor, though he was recently impeached by the Constitutional Court due to his brief declaration of martial law this month.
