Center-Left Candidate Wins South Korean Presidential Election After Tumultuous Six Months

South Korea's center-left Democratic Party candidate, Lee Jae-myung, has won the presidential election held on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, according to exit polls. The victory comes six months after a political crisis that led to the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Exit polls project Lee with 50.6% of the vote, compared to 39.4% for his conservative opponent, Kim Mon-soo. The election was called after Yoon's controversial declaration of martial law in December 2024, which was met with widespread protests and ultimately led to his removal from office. "This election represents a turning point for South Korea," said a political analyst. The new president faces significant economic challenges, including the impact of US tariffs. The high voter turnout, exceeding 44 million, underscores the importance of this election for the nation's future.