In December,legislator LEE JAE-MYUNG issued a warning from a moving car,urging Koreans to protect their democracy at the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. He looked weary and frightened, stating, “Our democracy is collapsing.”

President YOON SUK-YEOL,a former prosecutor from the PEOPLE POWER PARTY,had been accused of using state power against opponents. He declared martial law and sent troops to the parliamentary complex. LEE and his allies,referencing SOUTH KOREA’s history of military dictatorships,leveraged the constitution to allow the legislature to constrain martial law orders. Thousands of citizens gathered at the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, helping legislators vote down the order. This rare cross-party cooperation was seen as a model for resisting authoritarianism.

Following protests demanding YOON’s ousting, the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY impeached him, leading to his indictment and removal by the Constitutional Court. A snap election resulted in LEE’s victory, surpassing his narrow loss to YOON in 2022 by over eight points. His five-year term begins on Wednesday.

LEE, 61, has a background marked by poverty and a factory accident that affected his left arm. He became a human-rights lawyer, mayor, and governor.He advocates for redistributive policies and remains loyal to the UNITED STATES while maintaining independence. He survived an assassination attempt where an attacker, claiming to save KOREA from “left-wing forces,” stabbed him in the neck.

LEE has faced controversies, including misrepresenting himself as a prosecutor and accusations of an extramarital affair. He was also prosecuted for allegedly lying about his relationship with a real-estate developer. Critics labeled him a “petty criminal,” while others deemed him “dangerous.” Far-right groups targeted him as a “pinko commie.”

“our democracy is collapsing. Please come together to protect it.”

In the recent election, LEE’s rival, KIM MOON-SOO, a former labor minister representing YOON, accused LEE of being the country’s “most corrupt goverment official.” KIM defended YOON’s martial law declaration, attributing it to the Democratic Party’s obstruction in the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. The PEOPLE POWER PARTY dismissed the self-coup attempt as a minor error.

Leading up to the election,campaign activities were observed in CHEONAN and NAMYANGJU. In SEOUL, early voters showed enthusiasm for LEE. Voter turnout was nearly eighty percent, with Election Day declared a national holiday.

The election mirrored the 2017 snap election that replaced President PARK GEUN-HYE, following similar circumstances of misconduct, protests, and impeachment. It also echoed the 2020 U.S. election, where JOE BIDEN presented himself as an antidote to a controversial leader. Both MOON and BIDEN struggled to unite their countries and implement desired changes.

The resistance to YOON was largely driven by young women who protested against his women-bashing stance. YOON focused on abolishing SOUTH KOREA’s gender ministry and blamed feminism for social issues. Critics noted that the Democratic Party could have nominated a woman to succeed YOON and push for anti-discrimination laws.

During his campaign, LEE avoided gender issues and appeals to labor or the poor. He presented himself as a “real conservative” to attract YOON’s supporters. However, as his lead grew, LEE emphasized his support for small businesses and the working class, stating, “It’s because LEE JAE-MYUNG is from the periphery. He’s on the side of small and medium-sized businesses, not big corporations. He stands with the poor and working class.”