South Korea handed a decisive victory to opposition candidate Lee Jae-myung six months after his predecessor’s martial law bid failed.
The brief yet disastrous move set off huge protests and ended former president Yoon Suk Yeol’s career: impeached and removed from office, he still faces criminal charges for abusing his power.
But the political chaos that followed means victorious Lee’s biggest challenge is still ahead of him. He must unite a polarised country that is still reeling from it all.
He also faces challenges abroad – crucially, negotiating a trade deal with US President Donald Trump to soften the blow of tariffs from South Korea’s closest ally.
His main rival was the ruling party candidate and a former member of Yoon’s cabinet, Kim Moon-soo.
He had been trailing Lee for weeks in polls and in the early hours of Wednesday, he conceded defeat, congratulating Lee “on his victory”.
In an earlier speech, Lee had hinted at the win but stopped short of declaring it. He said “recovering” South Korea’s democracy would be his first priority.
The snap election comes just three years after the 61-year-old lost his last presidential bid by a razor-thin margin to Yoon.
It’s a remarkable comeback for a man who has been caught in several political scandals, from investigations over alleged corruption to family feuds.
Analysts say Lee’s win is also a rejection of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), which was tarred by Yoon’s martial law order.
