Lee Jae-myung Takes Office as South Korea's President, Vows National Unity

Tue Nov 11 2025 21:03:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In his inaugural address, newly elected President Lee Jae-myung calls for healing and economic revival in a divided South Korea.

After winning the presidency, Lee Jae-myung emphasized his commitment to unifying South Korea, amid ongoing political strife, and pledged to serve all citizens regardless of political affiliation.

Just hours after being sworn in as the new president of South Korea, Lee Jae-myung expressed a strong commitment to fostering unity among the nation's citizens in his inaugural speech delivered on Wednesday. His remarks come at a time when the country is facing significant political divides, exacerbated by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial martial law announcement last December.

"I will start with reviving the economy and healing the people," Lee stated in front of the National Assembly, addressing the need for collective recovery. He extended an olive branch to voters, affirming, "Regardless of who you supported in this election... I will be the president of all the people."

Elected with nearly 50% of the votes for the liberal Democratic Party, Lee criticized the ongoing political turmoil, attributing it to "political factions with no desire to work for the lives of the people." His administration aims to bridge these divisions and prioritize the welfare of all South Koreans as he takes on the challenges ahead.