Earlier this month, South Korea elected a new president, Lee Jae-myung, in a snap election, ending the six-month political crisis that had engulfed the country. This crisis began with then President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law in December last year, followed by his impeachment by the parliament and subsequent removal from office by the constitutional court. The high voter turnout -- nearly 80% -- illustrated the public’s deep concern over democracy and desire for change. Lee Jae-myung, representing the opposition Democratic Party, won with an 8-percentage vote margin against the ruling People’s Power Party candidate, Kim Moon-soo, and Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, who secured 41% and 8.3% of the vote, respectively.

Lee’s victory marks a notable comeback, considering he had lost to Yoon in the 2022 election by less than a single percentage point. The backlash against the declaration of martial law undoubtedly played a crucial role, galvanising support for the opposition. Internal divisions within the People’s Power Party, particularly concerning Kim Moon-soo’s candidature, further weakened its position. The Reform Party, a splinter group from the People’s Power Party led by Lee Jun-seok, also siphoned off conservative votes.

President Lee faces a daunting array of challenges. The most pressing need is to........

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