South Korea’s political landscape just got a major shakeup.
On June 3, 2025, Lee Jae-myung, once known as the “Korean Bernie Sanders” and now dubbed the “Korean Donald Trump,” clinched the presidency with just over 49% of the vote. His rise comes after months of political turmoil, a botched martial law attempt, and the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
This wasn’t your average election. It followed a constitutional crisis that nearly threw the country into a political tailspin. Yoon’s dramatic attempt to impose martial law in December 2024 was seen by many as an authoritarian overreach. The Constitutional Court agreed—voting unanimously to impeach him, a decision that cleared the path for Lee.
From Populist Outsider to Power Player
Lee’s path has been anything but conventional. Once a leftist firebrand pushing universal basic income, he’s since shifted gears—ditching progressive ideals and embracing a bold, nationalist tone that draws comparisons to Donald Trump. His supporters admire his energy and anti-elite stance. His critics point to a rap sheet of corruption allegations, witness deaths, and a trail of legal chaos.
Despite the scandals, Lee crushed internal rivals and unified the Democratic Party under his iron grip—turning it into what some call a personal fan club. With enemies on all sides and the judiciary breathing down his neck, he pulled off what many thought impossible: winning the presidency while facing criminal charges.
His legal fate is still murky. A Supreme Court ruling could theoretically disqualify him, but Democrats are already pushing legislation to protect him from prosecution. Critics call it lawfare. Supporters call it justice.
Conservative Meltdown
While Lee rallied his base, the conservative People Power Party imploded. Factions split between Yoon loyalists, center-right reformers, and old-school hawks. Infighting turned their primary into a disaster, leading to last-minute betrayals, resignations, and a reluctant unification behind Kim Moon-soo, a hardline former labor activist.
Even the acting president, Han Duck-soo, tried jumping into the race late, offering himself as a transitional leader. But in the end, conservatives couldn’t pull it together.
Lee capitalized on their dysfunction—and the rest is history.
What’s Next for South Korea?
Lee’s win might mark the beginning of a new era—or just more chaos in disguise. The country’s laws may be rewritten to suit the new leader, court rulings paused or reversed, and political norms further blurred. What direction Lee takes now is unclear, but one thing is certain: he’s not playing by old rules.
Whether South Korea moves toward reform or deeper division under Lee Jae-myung, the world is watching. Closely.
What do you think? Is Lee the strong leader South Korea needs—or just a populist in disguise?
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