South Korea’s New President Lee Jae-myung Takes Office Amid Deep National Divisions

Lee Jae-myung, South Korea’s newly inaugurated president, is widely recognized for his resilience.

Throughout his career, Lee has overcome criminal charges, survived a near-fatal stabbing, and endured the imposition of martial law by his fiercest political rival, former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Now, he confronts perhaps his greatest challenge yet: leading a nation deeply fractured by political, generational, and gender divides amid pressing domestic and international issues.

Securing victory in South Korea’s presidential election after his opponent conceded early Wednesday, Lee assumes office as one of the most powerful leaders the country has seen in recent decades. The South Korean presidency holds significant political authority, and Lee’s Democratic Party also commands a strong majority in the National Assembly, amplifying his influence.

However, Lee faces a daunting array of challenges.

The political unrest triggered by the brief declaration of martial law by Yoon, followed by its annulment and Yoon’s subsequent removal from office, has exposed deep fissures within the country’s political landscape. South Korea is caught between left and right factions, generational differences, and gender tensions. Meanwhile, the nation grapples with mounting pressure from its sole military ally, the United States, as North Korea’s nuclear threat escalates. The prior U.S. administration imposed heavy tariffs that hurt South Korea’s export-driven economy and demanded increased financial contributions to maintain American troops on South Korean soil.

Lee, 61, who rose from working in a clandestine factory during his youth to becoming the charismatic leader of South Korea’s largest political party, warned that the previous U.S. administration’s approach represented a “law of the jungle” in international relations. Despite this, he pledged to meet these challenges with a pragmatic diplomacy focused on advancing national interests.