Eyes on the World: The 'Strong' Lee Jae-myung Administration and South Korea's 'Fragile' Democracy

Overview

This article provides an analysis of the political foundation of South Korea's Lee Jae-myung administration and the challenges facing the nation's democracy. President Lee Jae-myung won the 2025 presidential election with 17,287,513 votes (49.4% of the total) amid a high voter turnout of 79.8%. A prominent 'west-high, east-low' trend was observed in regional voting patterns, with overwhelming support in the metropolitan capital area (Seoul, Incheon, Gyeonggi) being the decisive factor in his victory. The ruling Democratic Party secured 167 seats in the National Assembly, establishing a formidable political base that overwhelms the opposition through a de facto ruling coalition. Regarding demographic support, men in their 20s-30s tend to be critical of President Lee, while women in the same age group show high levels of support. Voters in their 60s exhibit a generally progressive tendency. The Lee administration's key policy challenges include addressing economic issues, judicial reform, prosecutorial reform, and investigating allegations concerning former President Yoon. In particular, judicial and prosecutorial reforms are positioned as critical issues that concern the very foundation of South Korea's democratic system. However, the article points out the vulnerability of South Korean democracy that lies beneath the 'strong' political foundation. The redefinition of the 'liberal democratic basic order,' issues concerning the separation of powers and judicial independence, and deepening political polarization are presented as significant challenges for the country's democracy. The article concludes that while the Lee Jae-myung administration commands a strong political base, it also grapples with the risks of democratic fragility and political division. How it navigates these challenges will determine the future of South Korea.