South Korea welcomed a new liberal president on Wednesday when Lee Jae-myung took office. He vowed to heal a divided nation and revive the economy. He won after months of unrest that followed former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s attempt to impose martial law. That move led to Yoon’s removal from office.

Lee won the presidency in a snap election. He secured 49.42% of the nearly 35 million votes. His conservative opponent, Kim Moon-soo, received 41.15%. The National Election Commission confirmed that this election had the highest voter turnout since 1997.

Lee described it as judgment day. He said, "The first mission is to decisively overcome insurrection and to ensure there will never be another military coup with guns and swords turned against the people."

He added, "We can overcome this temporary difficulty with the combined strength of our people, who have great capabilities."

Soon after the official announcement by the Election Commission, 61-year-old former human rights lawyer Lee Jae-myung assumed office as president and commander-in-chief. A brief inauguration ceremony was held at the National Assembly.

Lee took office during a difficult time. The country was still affected by political instability and an economic slowdown. Former President Yoon’s failed martial law attempt caused months of chaos. Three acting presidents took over during the transition, which added to the instability.

Lee faced the task of restoring trust in the government and building national unity. The economic outlook was also bleak. South Korea’s economy was projected to grow by just 0.8% this year—the slowest rate since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Lee’s government decided to invest in technology and innovation to revive growth. He also pledged to increase support for middle and lower-income families who were hit hardest by the slowdown.

The new South Korean administration planned to buy time on trade talks with the United States while observing how Japan and China handled their negotiations, reports said.

President Lee Jae-myung, who took office just hours after winning the June 3 snap presidential election without the usual two-month transition, said on the eve of the election, "The most pressing matter is trade negotiations with the United States."

The future of South Korea's export-oriented economy would depend on the deal Lee could strike. All of the country’s major sectors—chips, autos, and shipbuilding—remained heavily tied to global trade.

Despite the challenges, Lee showed confidence in the country and its people. He said, "This country has overcome hardship before. With unity, we can do it again."