LEE JAE-MYUNG SWORN IN AS SOUTH KOREA’S NEW PRESIDENT AFTER MONTHS OF POLITICAL CHAOS

Wed 04 June 2025:

Lee Jae-myung was sworn in as South Korea’s new president Wednesday following his historic win in snap elections, local media reported.

He took the oath of office during his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul, Yonhap News Agency reported.

On Tuesday, Lee was elected as the country’s 14th president in snap polls triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed martial law bid.

He secured over 49% of the vote, while Kim Moon-soo of the outgoing ruling People Power Party received 41.15%, according to official data.

Lee received more than 17 million votes.

Lee, who rose from childhood poverty to become South Korea’s leading liberal politician vowing to fight inequality and corruption, began his term earlier Wednesday, hours after winning a snap election that was triggered in April by the removal of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol over his ill-fated imposition of martial law late last year.

In his inaugural address at the National Assembly, Lee said that his government will deal with North Korean nuclear threats and its potential military aggressions with “strong deterrence” based on the South Korea-U.S. military alliance. But he said he would “open a communication channel with North Korea and establish peace on the Korean Peninsula through talks and cooperation.”

He said he’ll pursue pragmatic diplomacy with neighboring countries and boost trilateral Seoul-Washington-Tokyo cooperation.

“Through pragmatic diplomacy based on national interests, we will turn the crisis posed by the major shift in global economic and security landscapes into an opportunity to maximize our national interests,” Lee said.

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Several world leaders congratulate

Several world leaders on Wednesday congratulated South Korea’s newly elected President Lee Jae-myung over victory in snap polls triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed martial law bid.

South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung was elected as the country’s 14th president.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim congratulated South Korea’s newly elected President Lee Jae-myung.

“I sincerely congratulate Mr. Lee Jae-myung on his inauguration as the new President of South Korea,” Prime Minister Ishiba wrote on X.

“Japan and South Korea are important neighboring countries that should cooperate as partners in addressing the challenges faced by the international community,” he added.

He hoped that Japan-South Korea relations will progress steadily, and both governments will continue to communicate while prioritizing the exchanges between their peoples.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also expressed his congratulations, welcoming the opportunity to work with President Lee to enhance the bilateral ties.

“I extend my warmest congratulations to President Lee Jae-myung on his election as President of the Republic of Korea,” Anwar wrote on X.

“This marks a turning point for South Korea, a nation that has emerged from a period of intense contest and scrutiny with resilience and democratic resolve,” he added.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also congratulated Lee, saying: “Australia looks forward to working closely with you under our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

“Together, we can strengthen our trade and investment ties and promote a stable and prosperous region,” Albanese wrote on X.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted Lee Jae-Myung on being elected as the president of South Korea, expressing commitment to “working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.”

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was also among the leaders who congratulated Lee on his victory. On his X account, he expressed his eagerness to collaborate in strengthening the partnership to benefit both nations.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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