Lee Jae-myung’s life reads like a modern Korean movie, a journey that begins in poverty and ends on the precipice of national leadership. Born into hardship, molded by factory floors, and sharpened by legal advocacy, Lee is a figure who embodies the contradictions and dynamism of South Korea itself.
Few politicians have stirred as much admiration and controversy, or come as close to embodying both the frustrations and hopes of the Korean people. Whether as a human rights lawyer, outspoken mayor, or polarizing presidential contender, Lee’s public life has been an unbroken campaign for equity and reform.
As mayor of Seongnam and later governor of Gyeonggi Province, Lee gained nationwide attention for programs that prioritized people over profit. Now, with South Korea’s political landscape in flux following a presidential impeachment, Lee is poised to reshape the very structure of power.
But for all his popularity, Lee is not without opposition. His direct manner, fierce anti-elitism, and bold policy ideas have often alienated establishment figures and conservative voters. Legal challenges have followed him like shadows, adding mystery to his narrative.
Yet time and again, Lee has emerged not weakened, but emboldened, reshaped but not broken. And now, with the 2025 snap election looming, he may finally be on the verge of realizing the ultimate political vindication.
Early Life and Education
Lee Jae-myung was born on December 22, 1964, in the city of Andong, located in North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The fifth of seven children in a destitute household, his childhood was marked by intense financial struggle.
His family relocated to Seongnam, a satellite city near Seoul, in search of industrial work. From the age of 10, Lee was thrust into the workforce, laboring in factories under unsafe and grueling conditions.
Despite these hardships, Lee’s intellectual resolve remained undeterred. He passed equivalency exams for both middle and high school, displaying academic brilliance in unconventional ways.
Fueled by a determination to rise above his circumstances, Lee eventually gained admission to Chung-Ang University, where he pursued a degree in law. After passing the bar exam in 1986, he began a legal career that was far from ordinary.
Lee’s legal practice focused primarily on labor rights, tenant rights, and environmental issues. He was a known advocate in South Korea’s progressive legal community, often taking cases pro bono or at reduced rates.
His work as a lawyer in Seongnam earned him a reputation for being tough on corporations and protective of marginalized groups, including industrial workers and small business owners. During this period, he also became closely involved with local civil society organizations, paving the way for his future political career.
Rise Through Local Government
Lee’s first major public office came in 2010 when he was elected mayor of Seongnam. His victory came on the back of a populist platform centered on municipal transparency, anti-corruption, and social welfare expansion.
As mayor, Lee took steps that quickly distinguished him from his peers. He implemented South Korea’s first municipal-funded universal basic income program for young adults, a bold move that drew national attention. He also initiated free school uniform distribution and expanded public healthcare services to the vulnerable elderly population.
A significant part of Lee’s popularity stemmed from his war on corruption within municipal government. His administration enacted strict audit regulations on public officials and contracts, going so far as to create public online dashboards showing how government money was spent.
In 2018, Lee was elected governor of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea’s largest and most populous region. There, he extended his ambitious welfare programs and crisis response systems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee’s administration was among the most proactive in the country, deploying mass testing and rapid-contact tracing long before it became a national standard.
He provided emergency financial aid to Gyeonggi residents during lockdowns, a move lauded by public health experts and economists alike.
Presidential Ambitions and Legal Setbacks
Lee Jae-myung’s ambition to lead the nation culminated in his presidential bid during the 2022 South Korean election, where he ran as the candidate of the Democratic Party. Building on his local success, Lee positioned himself as a reformist who could address inequality, expand welfare, and tame the power of large conglomerates.
His campaign also emphasized climate action, digital innovation, and generational justice. Yet the race was bitterly divisive. His main rival, Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative People Power Party, framed Lee as a radical populist who threatened economic stability.
The election was one of the closest in South Korean history. Lee ultimately lost by a razor-thin margin of less than 1%, sparking both soul-searching within the Democratic Party and concern among progressives about the country’s political future.
While Lee Jae-myung publicly accepted the results, he almost immediately began to reassert his leadership, declaring that the progressive cause must regroup and prepare for the next fight. His supporters, many of whom were younger voters and the economically disenfranchised, continued to view him as the rightful heir to Korea’s reformist legacy.
However, Lee’s post-election political resurgence was complicated by legal entanglements. A series of investigations were launched into allegations of bribery and misconduct during his time as mayor and governor. Many of these allegations were viewed by his supporters as politically motivated, they nonetheless became a focal point of media coverage.
Most notably, he was indicted in 2023 on charges related to election law violations and urban development corruption, charges that cast a shadow over his bid to return as a national figure.
Lee’s legal battles reached a turning point in March 2025, when a South Korean court overturned one of the key convictions against him, ruling that prosecutors had not sufficiently proven malicious intent in his 2022 campaign statements. This moment became a turning point for Lee, allowing him to reposition himself as not only a survivor but as a symbol of resilience in a democracy struggling with polarization and political retribution.
The 2025 Snap Election and Political Reemergence
Lee Jae-myung’s political comeback gained major traction after the unexpected resignation of President Yoon Suk-yeol in early 2025 amid internal party turmoil and declining approval ratings. The snap election scheduled for mid-2025 offered a rare second chance for Lee, who had remained the Democratic Party’s unofficial standard-bearer even while facing legal peril.
As soon as the election was announced, Lee Jae-myung launched his campaign with renewed energy, pitching himself as the only candidate with both the reformist zeal and administrative experience to steer South Korea through turbulent times.
His campaign emphasized a wide array of social justice initiatives, including universal basic income, real estate reform, and stronger labor protections. He also pledged to demilitarize domestic politics by cracking down on political surveillance and prosecutorial overreach, issues he had experienced firsthand.
Unlike his 2022 campaign, which was marred by internal party divisions and relentless attacks from conservatives, the 2025 effort appears more coordinated and focused, drawing significant support from both the grassroots base and newly energized young voters.
Polls leading up to the election showed Lee holding a consistent lead over his conservative rivals. The court rulings clearing his name helped remove a major political liability, while his proven administrative track record gave him an edge over newer and less tested candidates.
Media outlets and international observers began to speculate about what a Lee presidency could look like, particularly in areas such as wealth redistribution, corporate regulation, and engagement with North Korea.
Personal Life, Public Image, and Ideological Identity
Lee Jae-myung’s personal life has always been intertwined with his political persona. Married to Kim Hye-kyung, a former public prosecutor, the couple has faced intense media scrutiny, especially during Lee’s political campaigns.
While they’ve been seen as a strong partnership, controversies have occasionally surfaced, particularly around the use of public funds during Kim’s time as Gyeonggi Province’s first lady.
Lee’s public image is complex and deeply polarizing. To his supporters, he is a fearless reformer, a man who understands poverty because he lived it, and who fights corruption because he has no ties to the elite.
His candid communication style and refusal to back down from confrontation have earned him a loyal following among working-class voters, younger demographics, and urban progressives. He is often likened to Bernie Sanders or Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, leaders who channel personal hardship into popular democratic politics.
Yet to his detractors, Lee’s unyielding personality can come across as combative, arrogant, and overly populist. Critics argue that his policy proposals, especially those involving universal welfare and housing reforms, risk fiscal irresponsibility. His legal troubles, though often legally unproven or overturned, have added fuel to these perceptions.
Ideologically, Lee Jae-myung is often described as a progressive nationalist. His politics blends economic justice, regional equity, and strong institutional accountability. He supports expansive welfare, redistribution, and transparency, but does so with a distinctly Korean pragmatism that values local autonomy and developmental state strategies.
What’s Next for Lee Jae-myung?
As South Korea prepares for the 2025 presidential snap election, Lee Jae-myung is widely viewed as the front-runner. If elected, his presidency could mark a major departure from the neoliberal-conservative status quo that has dominated Korean politics for much of the past two decades.
His priorities will likely include constitutional reform, restructuring executive power, and implementing robust social safety nets. Yet his ability to push such changes will depend not only on winning the presidency but also on building a strong coalition in the National Assembly.
Lee has also expressed interest in decentralizing power to local governments, arguing that South Korea’s hyper-centralized administrative system has become inefficient and unresponsive. He envisions a “co-governance” model that gives cities and provinces more authority over taxation, healthcare, housing, and education. Such ambitions suggest that Lee does not merely want to govern, he wants to fundamentally transform how governance is structured.
On the international front, a Lee presidency may pursue détente with North Korea, coupled with efforts to make South Korea a more autonomous global actor. He has signaled openness to more balanced diplomacy with China and Japan, while maintaining military and economic cooperation with the United States.
He has also pledged to bolster South Korea’s green economy through a “Green New Deal,” investing in clean energy, electric vehicles, and sustainable urban development.
However, challenges remain. Even with legal vindication, the opposition continues to question his character and past actions. Moreover, the electorate remains deeply divided.
If Lee Jae-myung wins the 2025 election, his first 100 days will be crucial in determining whether he can heal a fractured political environment and usher in the sweeping reforms he envisions, or whether he will become entangled in the very institutional inertia he seeks to dismantle.
Either way, South Korea stands at a turning point, and Lee Jae-myung is at its center.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Lee Jae-myung?
Lee Jae-myung is a South Korean politician, lawyer, and the Democratic Party’s candidate in the 2025 presidential snap election.
2. When was Lee Jae-myung born?
He was born on December 22, 1964, in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.
3. What political party does he belong to?
Lee Jae-myung is a prominent figure in the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).
4. What is Lee Jae-myung’s educational background?
He passed bar exams without formal high school and college diplomas but later studied law at Chung-Ang University.
5. How did Lee Jae-myung start his career?
He began as a labor and civil rights lawyer before entering local politics.
6. What positions has he held in government?
He was mayor of Seongnam (2010–2018) and governor of Gyeonggi Province (2018–2021).
7. What is Lee Jae-myung’s political ideology?
He’s a progressive reformist advocating economic democratization, decentralization, and constitutional reform.
8. Why is Lee Jae-myung considered controversial?
His direct style, legal troubles, and anti-establishment rhetoric have made him both beloved and reviled.
9. What legal issues has he faced?
He’s faced various allegations including election law violations and corruption, but key charges were overturned in 2025.
10. Did he run for president before 2025?
Yes, he narrowly lost to Yoon Suk-yeol in the 2022 presidential election.
11. What are his views on North Korea?
He supports diplomatic engagement and peaceful coexistence over hardline confrontation.
12. How does he view economic policy?
Lee supports welfare expansion, progressive taxation, and checks on corporate power.
13. What is his stance on climate change?
He backs a Korean “Green New Deal,” emphasizing clean energy and environmental sustainability.
14. Is Lee Jae-myung married?
Yes, to Kim Hye-kyung, a former public prosecutor.
15. What challenges does he face in 2025?
Divided public opinion, institutional resistance, and the need to unify his party and the nation.
16. What is his plan for constitutional reform?
He proposes replacing the single-term presidency with a two-term semi-presidential system.
17. What social programs has he implemented?
Universal basic income for youth, free school uniforms, emergency COVID-19 aid, and more.
18. What is his view on chaebols?
He believes they have too much influence and supports anti-monopoly regulations.
19. How popular is he among Korean voters?
He commands strong support from younger and working-class voters but remains polarizing.
20. What’s next for Lee Jae-myung?
If elected in 2025, he aims to lead South Korea through transformative structural reforms and equitable development.
21. How has Lee influenced Korean politics?
He has redefined the political conversation around class, justice, and institutional power.
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