At dawn on June 4, 2025, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea was confirmed as the 21st President of the Republic of Korea. According to the National Election Commission, vote counting was completed at 5:00 AM on the same day, with President-elect Lee Jae-myung securing 49.42% of the votes. Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party followed with 41.15%.

 
Fierce Vote Battle: President-elect Lee Jae-myung Wins by Approximately 2.89 Million Votes

In this presidential election, President-elect Lee Jae-myung garnered a total of 17,287,513 votes, surpassing Kim Moon-soo (14,395,639 votes) by 2,891,874 votes, or an 8.27%p difference. While a joint exit poll by the three major broadcasting stations initially predicted Lee Jae-myung to win with 51.7%, exceeding half the votes, the actual count fell short of a majority. This figure also falls short of the record high of 51.55% recorded by former President Park Geun-hye in 2012.

Kim Moon-soo was predicted to receive 39.3% in exit polls but ultimately secured 41.15% in the final count, demonstrating his strength by crossing the 40% threshold. This election, despite being dubbed one of the most unpopular elections in history, saw a high voter turnout, reflecting the public's keen interest.

 
Vote Share of Major Candidates and the Significance of the Election

In this 21st presidential election, in addition to the two major party candidates, Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party secured 8.34% of the votes, and Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party received 0.98%. Notably, Lee Jun-seok's 8% vote share is interpreted as partly reflecting voters' demand for change from the existing two-party system.

President-elect Lee Jae-myung is expected to focus on resolving social inequality and revitalizing the economy during his term. Stabilizing the real estate market and addressing youth issues are also likely to be key national agendas. Although Kim Moon-soo was defeated, he successfully rallied conservative support, still demonstrating significant political influence. The outcome of this election is expected to significantly impact the future political landscape of South Korea.

 
Statements from the President-elect and the Defeated Candidate, and the Future Political Situation

Immediately after his victory was confirmed, President-elect Lee Jae-myung held a press conference at his party headquarters, stating, "I deeply thank the people for their great choice" and "I will concentrate all my capabilities to lead the lives of the people in a better direction." He also conveyed a message of unity, emphasizing, "I will integrate the divided public sentiment and create a Republic of Korea where everyone can live well together."

Kim Moon-soo, at the vote counting situation room, stated, "I humbly accept the solemn choice of the people" and "As the opposition party, I will faithfully carry out the role of checks and balances for the development of the Republic of Korea." He also expressed gratitude to his supporters and affirmed his commitment to future political activities.

The 21st presidential election concluded with President-elect Lee Jae-myung's victory after a historically close race. As a new government is inaugurated, South Korea is expected to enter a period of new change. The implementation of the President-elect's pledges, the direction of state affairs, and the relationship with the opposition party are anticipated to be key issues in the future political landscape.

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