Lee Jae-myung Elected as 21st President of Republic of Korea… New Administration Officially Declared at Home and Abroad
President Lee Jae-myung’s 5-Year Term Begins at 6:21 AM, June 4, 2025
President Lee Jae-myung officially began his five-year term at 6:21 AM on June 4, 2025. At 6:15 AM, the National Election Commission held a plenary session to formally certify the results of the 21st presidential election.
Following his effective victory in the election, President-elect Lee declared, “I will restore democracy in this country, ensure that the people are respected as sovereign citizens within a democratic republic, and build a society where we live together through cooperation. I will fulfill this mission without fail.”
He continued, “The first mission you entrusted to me is to overcome internal conflict and ensure that there will never again be a military coup where weapons meant to defend the people are turned against them.”
Lee added, “The second mission you have given me is to revive the economy and restore livelihoods. From the moment I am officially confirmed as president, I will devote all my energy to helping relieve the suffering in your lives as quickly and as effectively as possible.”
He emphasized, “The state of the Republic of Korea must take full responsibility for the lives and safety of its citizens. In recent times, people have begun to question the very existence of the state as national tragedies have repeatedly taken lives. I will carry out the state’s primary duty of protecting life and safety to the fullest extent.”
Regarding security, Lee pledged, “I will work to build a peaceful and stable Korean Peninsula. I will do everything I can to stabilize inter-Korean relations swiftly, minimize the so-called ‘Korea risk,’ and ensure that national security issues do not worsen the daily lives of our citizens.”
He concluded, “We must go beyond hatred and division, toward a community of respect, coexistence, and cooperation. We may not yet achieve the ideal world we once dreamed of, but I will create a society where neighbors are not viewed with suspicion, but as true companions we can rely on in times of need.”
At 6:21 AM, Noh Tae-ak, Chief Commissioner of the National Election Commission and a Supreme Court Justice, struck the gavel and declared, “The 21st President-elect is Lee Jae-myung.”
With that, President Lee’s term officially began.
As this election was held as a by-election due to the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, Lee immediately assumed office without a transition process.
The presidential oath of office took place at 11:00 AM in the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly. The ceremony was brief and focused solely on the oath, reflecting Lee’s intent to quickly begin addressing national affairs.
International media noted that Lee’s election victory marked the end of six months of political turmoil triggered by the declaration of martial law and praised the outcome as a testament to South Korea’s democratic resilience.
In the final tally from the June 3 election, Lee won 17,287,513 votes, or 49.42% of the total. Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party garnered 41.15%, while Lee Jun-seok of the Reform New Party received 8.34%
[Editor Miso]
