[VT] June 4, 2025 – President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday pledged to pursue national unity and economic recovery, vowing to “end divisive politics,” according to Yonhap News Agency. He made the remarks during his inaugural address after being sworn in at 11 a.m. as South Korea’s 21st president at Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo District.
President Lee proposed five plans for his administration: “a nation where the people rule”; “a nation where vigorous growth and development recur”; “a nation where everyone lives well”; “a nation where culture blossoms”; and “a safe and peaceful nation.” He pledged to build “a country where the people rule in name and reality” and “unwaveringly push for major social reform gathered in the square of lights.”
The president first stressed the recovery of people’s livelihood and the economy, saying, “I will immediately launch a task force for emergency economic response,” adding, “I will restore the virtuous economic cycle by jumpstarting it using the national budget.”
In diplomacy and national security, he said, “I will firm up trilateral cooperation with the U.S. and Japan based on our steadfast bilateral alliance with the U.S. and approach relations with neighboring countries from the perspective of national interest and practicality.” “We will widen the horizon of our diplomacy, boost our international status and expand our country’s economic territory.”
President Lee concluded, “Reflecting another meaning of the presidency of uniting everyone no matter whom they supported in this election, I will become ‘everyone’s president’ who embraces and serves all the people.”
Profile of President Lee Jae-myung
Personal Information
- Korean Name: 이재명 (Lee Jae-myung)
- Date of Birth: December 8, 1963 (age 61)
- Place of Birth: Andong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea
- Political Party: Democratic Party of Korea (since 2014)
- Spouse: Kim Hye-kyung (married 1991)
- Children: 2
- Education: Chung-Ang University (LLB), Gachon University (MPA)
Early Life and Background Lee Jae-myung was born into poverty as the fifth of seven children in Andong. Due to his family’s financial struggles, he was unable to attend middle school after elementary graduation and instead worked as a child laborer in factories. At Dongma Rubber Company, he suffered a severe workplace injury when an industrial press crushed his wrist joint, leaving him permanently disabled in his arm and exempt from military service.
Despite these hardships, Lee pursued education through self-study, earning middle and high school equivalency diplomas. In 1981, he passed university entrance examinations and entered Chung-Ang University’s College of Law on scholarship, graduating in 1986. He then passed the bar examination and became a human rights and labor lawyer.
Political Career Timeline
Local Politics
- 2005: Joined the ruling Uri Party, ran unsuccessfully for Seongnam mayor
- 2010: Elected Mayor of Seongnam, re-elected in 2014
- 2018: Elected Governor of Gyeonggi Province
National Assembly
- 2022: Elected to National Assembly (Incheon Gyeyang District B)
- August 2022: Elected leader of the Democratic Party of Korea
Presidential Campaigns
- 2017: First presidential run, finished third in Democratic Party primary
- 2022: Second presidential run, narrowly lost to Yoon Suk Yeol (47.8% vs 48.6%)
- 2025: Third presidential run, won with 49.42% of votes
Major Political Events
2024 Martial Law Crisis Lee gained international attention during the December 2024 martial law crisis when President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. Lee livestreamed himself climbing the National Assembly building fence to bypass military personnel, calling on citizens to gather and protest. He subsequently led the impeachment efforts against Yoon, stating “Yoon will be impeached, if it’s today, a month, or three months from now.”
Assassination Attempt On January 2, 2024, Lee was stabbed in the neck by an assailant while touring a planned airport construction site in Busan. Though the wound was not life-threatening, he required surgery and made a full recovery.
Policy Positions
Economic Policy
- Advocates “Transformative and Fair Growth” strategy
- Supports Universal Basic Income implementation
- Promotes Green New Deal and digital transformation
- Favors state-led economic revival policies inspired by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal
Social Policy
- Champions youth policies including basic income and basic loans for young people
- Supports education reform focusing on capability development over grades
- Maintains relatively conservative stance on LGBTQ+ issues while supporting anti-discrimination laws
- Advocates for immigrant rights and foreign worker protections
Foreign Policy
- Supports strong U.S.-ROK alliance and trilateral cooperation with U.S. and Japan
- Views China as strategic partner while opposing cultural appropriation
- Continues liberal tradition of engagement with North Korea through conditional sanctions relief
- Promotes “two-track strategy” with Japan separating economic cooperation from historical issues
Legal Controversies Lee has faced multiple legal challenges throughout his political career, including charges of bribery, corruption, and election law violations. In November 2024, he was convicted of violating the Public Official Election Act for falsely denying his connection with a former Seongnam Development Corporation executive during his 2022 presidential campaign, receiving a one-year suspended sentence. In March 2025, the Seoul High Court overturned this conviction, though prosecutors have appealed to the Supreme Court.
Administrative Experience
Mayor of Seongnam (2010-2018) As mayor, Lee implemented innovative policies including:
- Youth dividend program (universal basic income for young residents)
- Free school uniforms for students
- Seongnam Medical Center expansion
- Ban on dog meat sales at Moran Market
- Achieved 94.1% campaign promise fulfillment rate
Governor of Gyeonggi Province (2018-2021) During his governorship, Lee:
- Received acclaim for COVID-19 pandemic response
- Implemented world’s first data dividend program
- Promoted open document format adoption in government
- Used data analysis to combat African swine fever
Political Philosophy Lee’s political philosophy centers on “Eokgang Buyak” (억강부약) – curbing the privileges of the powerful while supporting the weakest segments of society. This philosophy stems directly from his personal experience with crushing poverty and disability. His rise from child factory worker to president represents a unique trajectory in Korean politics.
Historical Significance Lee Jae-myung’s presidency marks a significant turning point in South Korean politics. As the first president to rise from such humble beginnings – a disabled former child laborer – he represents the voice of South Korea’s marginalized populations. His inauguration signals the beginning of what he calls the “new Republic of Korea” through reform and practice.
His administration faces the challenge of healing national divisions following the martial law crisis while implementing ambitious economic and social reforms. As he pledged in his inaugural address, his presidency aims to create a country where “everyone lives well” through transformative policies and inclusive governance.
