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South Korea election 2025 results: Lee Jae-Myung set to be president as Kim Moon-soo concedes defeat

Democratic Party candidate, who went viral last year for scaling the walls of the National Assembly during martial law, is set to be sworn in on Wednesday.

Updated on: Jun 3, 2025, 22:19:19 IST
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The results for the South Korea presidential elections 2025 are in. As per the official reports, Lee Jae-Myung has won the popular vote and is set to become the next president of South Korea.

South Korea's Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung (AP)
South Korea's Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung (AP)

The Democratic Party candidate, who went viral last year for scaling the walls of the National Assembly during martial law, will be sworn in on Wednesday.

As the counting of votes continues, People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo addressed supporters, media and conceded defeat.

"I will humbly accept the choice of the people. Congratulations to the elected candidate Lee Jae-myung," Kim told reporters.

ALSO READ | From escaping death to becoming president: All about South Korea's new president Lee Jae-Myung

With 84.12 percent of votes counted as of 1:40 AM KST, Lee Jae-Myung has secured 48.31 percent of the vote, whereas Kim Moon-soo trailed at 42.9 percent.

In an address to supporters outside the DP headquarters in Seoul, Lee thanked the voters for the outcome. He also vowed to unite the country and hold dialogue with North Korea. He also added that his government will make sure that there are no military coups in the future.

South Korea sees historic voter turnout

For the first time in 28 years, the voter turnout for South Korea presidential elections hit the 80 per cent mark.

As per the National Election Commission, the final voter turnout for Tuesday's vote stood at 79.4 percent.

Of the 44.39 million eligible voters, 35.24 million cast their votes across the country.

Landslide victory predicted by exit polls.

After polls closed at 8pm KST, exit polls in South Korea predicted a major victory for Lee Jae-Myung.

In the combined exit polls issued by South Korea’s three broadcasters, KBS, MBC, SBS, Lee had been projected to secure 51.7 per cent of the vote. His main rival, the ruling People Power Party’s candidate Kim Moon-soo was projected to get 39.3 per cent of the vote.

A JTBC exit poll projected that Lee will garner 50.6 per cent of the vote, as Kim trailed behind at 39.4 per cent. Meanwhile, Channel A's exit poll projected a 51.1 percent lead for Lee.

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    Danita Yadav is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times. Based in New Delhi, Danita serves as a pivotal voice in international reportage in the team. Operating under the mandate of delivering "without the noise", Danita excels at distilling complex geopolitical developments into lucid, objective narratives which prioritise factual accuracy over sensationalism. In HT, Danita has been recognised for her breaking news efforts and time-bound coverage of the Air India crash, which has driven over 2 million users to the website through trusted, factual coverage of the incident. Thriving in high-pressure editorial environments, Danita has also cultivated a reputation for navigating the nuances of global diplomacy and cross-border policy. With over four years of experience in the journalism industry, Danita has spent her years diving deep into the coverage of international relations and global conflicts. She has previously worked with the news teams at Outlook India and Times Network, covering a wide range of beats and topics, from education curricula and student protests to Indian politics and international conflicts such as the Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan wars. Danita earned her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi. Beyond the newsroom and her love for international relations, you'll find Danita 'geeking' out over books, music and BTS. Her appreciation for global pop culture and storytelling also added to her unique perspective on the "soft power" dynamics that increasingly have shaped international relations in the ever-changing global order.Read More

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