South Korea election results 2025: Who won, who lost, what’s next?

Lee Jae-myung’s victory in South Korea’s presidential election was a surprise given the nation’s political turmoil from former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s short-lived martial law. The 61-year-old, a renowned human rights lawyer and politician, faces five ongoing corruption trials but is poised to become the country’s next leader, taking his oath shortly after the provisional results confirm his win. Lee gained traction by opposing Yoon’s authoritarian measures during his time as governor of Gyeonggi and mayor of Seongnam, vowing to bring justice to those involved in the failed martial law bid and strengthen South Korea’s ties with its allies while addressing economic and security challenges.