Lee Jae-myung, the liberal Democratic Party of Korea’s presidential candidate and presumed winner of the 21st presidential election, speaks during a vote-counting event hosted by the party in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, in the early hours of June 4. / Reporter Park Min-kyu

In the 21st presidential election, the people chose a government led by Lee Jae-myung. As exit polls from South Korea’s three major broadcasters and subsequent vote counts showed Lee, the presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) holding a decisive lead over Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), his victory became all but certain. From the beginning of this early presidential election, held in the aftermath of former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law declaration on December 3 of last year, Lee maintained a dominant lead and achieved a change of government after three years. This outcome reflects the people’s demand to put an end to the rebellion and swiftly return the country to normalcy.

The 79.4 percent voter turnout, which is the highest since the 2000s, demonstrates the public’s strong desire for change. It lends the new president powerful legitimacy and a mandate to steer the country through the crisis. Lee received broad-based support across regions, generations, and genders. Now, he must move forward without hesitation to restore the democratic republic, revive people’s livelihoods, and embark on a new journey of national unity.

From the outset, this election was about holding the Yoon administration accountable for rebellion and misgovernance. The regime that trampled on democracy has received the people’s political judgment through a transfer of power. Lee’s widespread and high vote share confirms this desire for justice. As of 1 a.m. on June 4, vote counts showed Lee leading everywhere except Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, where rival Kim held a strong advantage. Exit polls indicated overwhelming support for Lee across both men and women in their 20s through 50s. While Yoon and his allies prioritized self-interest over constitutional order, the people exercised their sovereign duty and overturned the regime that betrayed public trust.

The new government must honor the sacrifice and courage of the citizens who resisted the unconstitutional imposition of martial law. Without properly holding those responsible accountable and dismantling the remnants of the rebellion, true national unity is impossible. Turning a blind eye to those crimes would only leave a dangerous precedent for future generations. We have already witnessed incidents such as the mob violence by Yoon’s staunch supporters at the Seoul Western District Court during the judicial process of rebellion suspects. Without surgically removing the old and rotten parts of the state and society that allowed insurrectionist forces to take root, it will be difficult to look forward to the future. The president-elect must immediately embark on a major reform of the state and society.

Alarming forecasts of near-zero economic growth reflect the severity of the livelihood crisis. South Korea’s economy, already weighed down by stagnation, polarization, and the loss of growth engines, faces a grim outlook. The Yoon administration’s reckless tax cuts for the wealthy have eroded both economic growth and fiscal soundness. Whether South Korea can rebound to a dynamic economy remains uncertain. This is why Lee has prioritized “the economy and people’s livelihoods” as his first presidential task, under a banner of pragmatism. Large-scale supplementary budgets should revive everyday life, while in the mid-to-long term, the excessive tax cuts should be rolled back and earmarked taxes introduced to expand the welfare system.

Foreign policy and security risks, intensified by U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions, demand urgent attention. The intensifying U.S.-China rivalry and global instability have made the Korean Peninsula more precarious than ever. Despite this, the U.S. is pushing South Korea to the brink by pressuring us to choose between the U.S. and China while demanding payment for “tariff wars” and “security cost hikes.” There is also great concern that South Korea, as a party to the negotiations between North Korea and the U.S., could be sidelined. The new administration must carefully set the direction of foreign affairs and security from the perspective of national interests and exercise meticulous and resolute negotiating skills.

At the same time, the Lee Jae-myung administration must ensure that no voices from the square at the time of Yoon’s impeachment are left behind. It should embrace and implement the policy agendas of the “reform alliance,” including climate action, protection for the marginalized, and labor rights. The new administration must also actively pursue gender equality, an issue that, despite being voiced most passionately in the public square, was sidelined during the presidential campaign. Reforming powerful institutions such as the prosecution remains a critical task. It is also urgent to restore the functions of key public agencies like the Korea Communications Commission and the National Human Rights Commission, both of which were severely undermined under the Yoon administration.

Political reform is the foundation for all these urgent national challenges. The divisive governance of the Yoon administration proved ineffective on every front. As Lee pledged to “end divisive politics,” the hope is that he will lay the groundwork for a new era of cooperative governance. Broad-based, bipartisan appointments, seeking talent across party lines, would be a good start. To bring about true political and societal transformation, amending the outdated 38-year-old Constitution is essential. Lee should present a clear timeline for constitutional reform, as promised, and build public consensus to push it forward step by step. The new administration has no choice but to start without a transition committee to assist the incoming administration, despite the many national challenges that lie ahead. Lee must quickly establish the broad direction and details of his policies and move forward while communicating with the people.

The next five years under President Lee will determine whether South Korea can rise again. The complex crises facing the country cannot be overcome with complacent politics. With a deep sense of urgency and responsibility, Lee must open the door to a new era with bold creativity and decisive leadership. He must never forget that the hopes for national unity and prosperity now rest squarely on his shoulders as the “representative citizen” chosen by the people.