Lee Jae-myung
Lee Jae-myung is a South Korean politician who became President of South Korea in June 2025 following the impeachment of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, after a martial law crisis.
Once narrowly losing the presidency in a razor-thin election and later surviving an assassination attempt, Lee's political fortunes turned dramatically following a political crisis triggered by his predecessor.
A Path Through Local Government
Lee built his early political career as Mayor of Seongnam and later Governor of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea's most populous region, before narrowly losing the 2022 presidential election.
Surviving an Assassination Attempt
Lee survived an assassination attempt in January 2024, an attack that drew significant national attention as he continued his political career in its aftermath.
A Martial Law Crisis Opens the Door
Lee's path to the presidency was cleared following a 2024 martial law crisis instigated by then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, which led to Yoon's impeachment and removal from office.
An Unexpectedly Successful First Year
Since taking office in June 2025, Lee has maintained unusually high approval ratings, engaging in notable diplomatic outreach to China and Japan while managing ongoing tensions with North Korea.
