Seoul: New South Korean President Lee Jae-myung was sworn into office Wednesday, pledging to unite a divided nation, revitalize the economy, and pursue pragmatic diplomacy based on national interests, Yonhap News Agency reported.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Lee, the liberal Democratic Party candidate, secured victory in the election with 49.42 percent of the vote, defeating his conservative rival from the People Power Party, Kim Moon-soo, who garnered 41.15 percent. Lee commenced his five-year term without a transition period, having won a snap election triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid in December.
During his inaugural address at the National Assembly, Lee emphasized the need to restore security and peace, rebuild the economy, and revive democracy. "It is time to restore security and peace, which have been reduced to tools of political strife; to rebuild livelihoods and the economy damaged by indifference, incompetence and irresponsibility; and to revive democracy undermined by armored vehicles and automatic rifles," he stated.
On the foreign policy front, Lee, aged 61, highlighted the importance of "pragmatic" diplomacy focused on national interests to navigate the changing economic and security dynamics. He expressed intentions to enhance South Korea-US-Japan cooperation while maintaining a solid Korea-US alliance and approaching relations with neighboring countries from a practical standpoint.
Lee also addressed North Korea, advocating for strong deterrence against its threats while remaining open to dialogue. "We will open channels of communication and pursue dialogue and cooperation with the North to build lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula," he added. His inauguration follows a six-month leadership gap after Yoon's martial law incident, which left South Korea's export-driven economy susceptible to US President Donald Trump's tariffs.
Lee's political journey began after studying law at Chung-Ang University and passing the bar in 1986. His initial political attempt was in 2006, running for mayor of Seongnam, a city near Seoul. Although he lost that election, he won in 2010 and was reelected in 2014. Lee has been a significant political figure since 2022, following a narrow loss in the presidential election to Yoon Suk Yeol. He has since been elected as a National Assembly member for Incheon's Gyeyang-B district and served two consecutive terms as leader of the liberal Democratic Party.