Lee Jae-myung was formally sworn in as South Korea’s new president on Wednesday at 6:21 a.m., marking a dramatic and immediate transfer of power in the wake of a snap election triggered by a presidential vacancy.
The National Election Commission convened earlier in the day to officially confirm Lee, of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), as the country’s 21st president following his decisive victory overnight.
Under Korean law, the outcome of a vacancy election results in the automatic commencement of the new president’s five-year term once confirmed, without the usual two-month transition period, during which the outgoing government transfers all government work to the new administration.
Control of the military as the nation’s commander-in-chief and the full powers of the presidency were transferred automatically to Lee from acting President Lee Ju-ho, the deputy prime minister and education minister.
In his first telephone conversation with Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo earlier on Wednesday, Lee called for “watertight” military readiness against North Korea
Lee secured 49.42% of the vote, or more than 17.28 million ballots, defeating conservative contender Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, who garnered 41.15%.
LIST OF KEY MEMBERS OF THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION
In a sign of rapid consolidation, Lee moved swiftly to nominate key members of his incoming administration.
Senior DP lawmaker Kim Min-seok, a veteran of the student democracy movements of the 1980s and a four-term parliamentarian, has reportedly been tapped as prime minister.
Kang Hoon-sik, a close Lee ally and three-term lawmaker with a background in campaign strategy, is set to be named the new president’s chief of staff. Lee Han-joo, a former head of the Democratic Research Institute, the DP’s think-tank, and architect of Lee’s signature basic income policy, is expected to take the post of the presidential policy chief, sources said.
The appointments reflect Lee’s preference for experienced strategists drawn largely from within his loyalist inner circle.
Analysts said the pace and nature of the selections also signal an intent to hit the ground running on domestic reforms and economic policy – a cornerstone of Lee’s populist campaign.
Foreign policy roles are also reportedly being finalized.
Lee is expected to appoint former Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok, ex-national security adviser Kim Hyun-jong and DP lawmaker Wi Sung-rak to senior national security positions.
Kim Byung-wook, a member of the so-called “Group of Seven” that shaped Lee’s political rise, is rumored to be in line for senior political advisory roles, while legal expert Oh Kwang-soo is under consideration for the post of senior civil affairs secretary.
CONGRATULATIONS FROM TOP US, JAPAN OFFICIALS
In Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued an official statement congratulating Lee on his election, calling the South Korea–US alliance “ironclad.”
Rubio underscored the Trump administration’s commitment to strengthening trilateral cooperation between South Korea, the US and Japan amid growing geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties.
“We congratulate President Lee Jae-myung on his election as the Republic of Korea. The United States and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the alliance grounded in our Mutual Defense Treaty, shared values and deep economic ties,” he said.
Lee is expected to have a phone conversation with Donald Trump later in the day.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has also extended his congratulations, calling Lee’s election “a result of South Korea’s vibrant democracy” and pledging to work closely with the new administration in Seoul.
Analysts said Lee now faces the formidable challenge of navigating a polarized political environment, an uneven economic recovery and increasingly complex diplomatic terrain – all while seeking to deliver on campaign promises of social equity, digital transformation and income redistribution.
The Bank of Korea last week lowered its 2025 economic growth forecast to 0.8% from the previous 1.5%. It slashed the central bank’s policy rate by a quarter-percentage-point to 2.5% to buttress the falling economy.
By In-Soo Nam
isnam@hankyung.com
Jennifer Nicholson-Breen edited this article.
