Lee Jae-myung secured the presidential nomination of South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party on Saturday, positioning himself as a formidable contender in his third bid for the country’s highest office.
Lee received 89.77% of the votes in the party’s final selection event held in Goyang, just northwest of Seoul, avoiding a runoff. Rivals Kim Dong-yeon and Kim Kyung-soo garnered 6.87% and 3.36%, respectively.
His nearly 90% support is the highest recorded in a presidential primary since South Korea’s direct presidential election system was established in 1987, surpassing the tallies of former presidents Kim Dae-jung (78.04%) and Park Geun-hye (83.97%).
Lee maintained strong support throughout the regional primaries, receiving 91.54% of the vote in the final rounds covering the Seoul metropolitan area, Gangwon Province, and Jeju Island.
In his acceptance speech, Lee said voters had given him a mandate for “an overwhelming change of government to end insurrection and backwardness,” and pledged to serve as “the candidate of all people yearning for the end of insurrection, overcoming crises, and national unity.”
He accused the former ruling bloc of seeking to undermine the country’s democratic system through what he called “a pro-military coup aimed at permanent rule.” Lee vowed to “close the doors of an old era marked by inequality, despair and conflict, and open a new era of hope and happiness.”
Political analysts say Lee’s nomination positions him as one of the strongest presidential contenders in recent history. A victory would see his Democratic Party, which holds 170 seats in the National Assembly, cementing control over both the executive and legislative branches.
Lee is scheduled to visit the Seoul National Cemetery and meet with semiconductor industry leaders, including a visit to SK Hynix’s campus in Icheon, on April 28. During his 2022 presidential campaign, he had pledged to form a “unified government” after visiting the graves of former presidents he had previously criticized.
In his speech, Lee mentioned the word “unity” 14 times, while notably avoiding harsher language like “punishment” and “retribution,” a move seen as an attempt to ease concerns among moderate and conservative voters about his combative image.
Still, Lee framed the upcoming election as a battle between “the future and the past, progress and regression, hope and despair, unity and division,” and said ending “insurrection” would be his priority, a term he used eight times in his address.
Speaking to reporters after the event, Lee also criticized acting President Han Duck-soo, whose potential presidential run has been widely speculated, suggesting Han’s candidacy would constitute “a de facto insurrection and constitutional violation.”
Lee emphasized that he would act as “the candidate for all citizens,” vowing to promote democracy, economic growth, and national integration. He also pledged to build a broad campaign team, emphasizing competence over personal connections.
Asked about potential electoral alliances with minor parties, Lee said, “I didn’t know the Progressive Party was fielding a candidate,” but added that he would seek cooperation with anyone committed to overcoming political turmoil and restoring constitutional order.
Looking to the future, Lee addressed challenges such as trade tensions under U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term and rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, warning against divisions and ideological conflicts.
“We cannot afford to waste time being trapped in the past,” he said, proposing his vision of a “True Republic of Korea,” a phrase he used during the campaign to describe a nation leading the world through economic and cultural strength.
Lee became emotional when recalling his early political career, citing his 2004 decision to run for mayor of Seongnam after the collapse of a plan to build a public hospital. “I shed tears in a basement prayer room that day,” he said.
“I have never fought an easy battle,” Lee said, thanking party members and supporters who stood by him. He ended his acceptance speech with a vow to achieve an “overwhelming victory” and bowed deeply to the audience.
