His conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party follows with 39.3 percent, according to a joint exit poll survey by public broadcasters KBS, MBC, and SBS.
The 61-year-old former Gyeonggi Province governor is seeking to implement sweeping economic reforms following months of political turmoil triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration.
Lee’s background sets him apart from South Korea’s political elite. Born into poverty as the seventh of nine children, he revealed in his autobiography that he spent his early years working in factories instead of receiving a proper education. A workplace accident left his left arm permanently damaged, but he persevered to earn a law degree and pass the national bar examination. His experience as a human rights lawyer defending exploited workers helped shape his pro-labor political philosophy.
After becoming mayor of Seongnam City in 2010, Lee went on to serve as governor of Gyeonggi Province in 2018. He ran as the Democratic Party’s candidate in the 20th presidential election but lost to Yoon Suk Yeol. Now, he is running again in the 21st presidential election as the forerunner for his party.
The Democratic Party candidate has pledged to introduce a 4.5-day workweek with no pay reduction, aiming to address South Korea’s notoriously long working hours. Lee also remains committed to advancing the Yellow Envelope Act, which would expand legal protections for workers and unions during labor disputes. His labor agenda includes stronger workplace safety measures and increased healthcare investment for workers in hazardous environments.
As part of his economic revival plan, Lee has proposed a bold 100 trillion won (70.6 billion dollars) artificial intelligence initiative aimed at positioning South Korea among the world’s top three AI powers. The plan includes developing a "Korean ChatGPT" with free access for all citizens and acquiring more than 50,000 high-performance GPUs. His administration would also prioritize research and development investments while strengthening the country’s defense and content industries.
In a Facebook post on June 2, Lee reaffirmed his commitment to the Korean people, saying: "I will pursue politics that has a positive impact on the people's livelihood and economy. I will definitely keep my promise of a country where we all prosper together, a Republic of Korea where each and every citizen's life is respected."
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