President Lee Jae-Myung Must Act. Before It’s Too Late.

Lee Jae-Myung must execute his promises quickly before it's due. (Non-copyright video Unsplash)

On June 3rd, 2025, Lee Jae-myung won the South Korean presidential elections in his second attempt to do so. Compared to his presidential campaign in 2022, when Lee lost to former President Yoon Suk-Yeol by less than one percent, the Democratic candidate decisively took victory in his second campaign. Lee Jae-Myung and the Democratic party received almost 50 percent of the votes, while the opposing Kim Moon-Soo and the People Power Party received 41.1 percent. As he gains control of the presidency and the National Assembly, Lee promises to restore democracy to South Korea and end the polarized state of the nation. 

Lee undoubtedly faces a daunting task: reviving the nation from a condition he phrased as “near demise,” according to Reuters. “[My] government will be a pragmatic pro-marked government,” Lee proclaimed after taking the oath of office. The expectations among South Korean citizens for a change are high, especially after the circumstances the country suffered under the now-shamed presidency of former president Yoon Suk-Yeol. If he is to gain any support from within his country, Lee must bring changes to the nation without further due –– as he promised. 

Since Yoon declared martial law in December of 2024, South Korea’s democracy has remained fragile as many citizens questioned just how much they can trust in the government’s actions behind the scenes. It is now in the hands of Lee to restore stability in South Korea. 

Lee’s first task as president is to take a stance on North Korea. Over the past few decades, South Korea’s relationship with North Korea has largely remained stagnant under a conciliatory relationship under the law, but also endlessly in the realm of nuclear war. During both his presidential campaigns, Lee vouched for his support for alliances, promoting peaceful talks rather than accelerated tensions. Meanwhile, he has also called for more diplomatic talks with China and Russia. According to the East Asia Forum, Lee desires a balance between sustaining alliances with North Korea and improving relations with ‘adversaries.’ 

In other words, Lee Jae-myung will most likely reverse many of the policies implemented under the Yoon administration, which increased tensions with North Korea to emphasize the national interests of South Korea. With his plans to make greater ties with China as a “major trading partner,” Lee seeks interdependence. As long as Lee maintains the balance that he desires, these changes all seem very progressive and beneficial to South Korea, strengthening diplomacy and relations across Asia. 

But in truth, the greater issue lies with the United States, and more specifically, the Trump administration. South Korea has long relied on its alliance with the U.S. to promote stability and democracy in East Asia with its collective goal to promote global democracy. However, with Donald Trump returning to office in 2025, that relationship now stands on shakier ground.

With Trump’s global war on tariffs and his infamous stubbornness, gaining cooperation with Trump will be no easy task. The Center for Strategic and International Studies even stated that there is “no time to spare [for Lee] before tackling the most important task of his early presidency: reaching a deal with Trump” in an analysis. 

“The United States and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defense Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties,” the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated after Lee’s victory. At this moment, Rubio’s words and the future of the U.S.-South Korea relationship, remain to be seen and uncertain. 

For Lee to tackle all these uncertainties, he must act now. The Lee administration had a golden opportunity that President Yoon did not: a majority in the National Assembly and a clear plan against his now-disgraced predecessor. All that remains is for him to execute his promises.