Overview

• Lee Jae-myung, the frontrunner in polls, formally announced his candidacy for South Korea's presidency on April 10, promising to address income inequality and stimulate economic growth.
• The snap election was triggered by the impeachment and removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his December 2024 martial law declaration, upheld by the Constitutional Court last week.
• Lee’s campaign emphasizes government-led investments in technology and talent development, alongside a pragmatic foreign policy prioritizing South Korea's national interests.
• The conservative People Power Party faces internal divisions between Yoon loyalists and reformists, with multiple candidates vying for its nomination ahead of a May primary.
• Lee is navigating ongoing legal challenges, including corruption trials, which could impact his leadership if elected, though he remains a polarizing yet popular figure among liberal voters.