Despite pleas for reconciliation and a break from the cycle of political revenge before and since South Korea's recent presidential elections, it appears newly elected President Lee Jae-myung is showing no mercy to his predecessor, the deposed Yoon Suk Yeol, and has approved new investigations into the former president and his wife.

Each of the last six South Korean leaders going back to Roh Moo-hyun, who was elected in 2003, has faced criminal investigations by subsequent administrations for their actions in office or for other alleged wrongdoings, usually with disastrous consequences.

Roh died by suicide after being accused of bribery while his successor, Lee Myung-bak, was convicted after leaving office for bribery, embezzlement and tax evasion, and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The next occupant of the presidential Blue House, Park Geun-hye, was impeached in 2016 for influence-peddling and given a 25-year prison term for corruption.

The next full-time president was Moon Jae-in, who was in April 2025........

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