South Korea’s Democratic Resilience

In June 2025, South Korea witnessed a major democratic milestone as Lee Jae-myung was elected President after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached for attempting to impose martial law in December 2024 to bypass the opposition-led National Assembly. The peaceful transition following political chaos highlights the institutional strength of South Korea’s democracy, especially given its past under military dictatorship.

Breakdown of Democratic Crisis under Yoon Suk Yeol

• Attempted Martial Law Coup: In December 2024, then-President Yoon Suk Yeol tried to impose martial law with military backing to sideline the National Assembly and arrest key opposition figures like Lee Jae-myung. The move evoked memories of South Korea’s authoritarian past and faced widespread domestic resistance.
• Rapid Political Fallout: Yoon’s unconstitutional attempt led to public protests, political backlash, and ultimately, his impeachment. His party suffered a loss of credibility, and the constitutional order was restored through legal and democratic means within months.
• Democratic Strength Displayed: Despite the crisis, South Korea conducted free and fair elections on June 3, 2025. Lee Jae-myung secured 4% votes, defeating Kim Moon-soo (41.2%) in a peaceful transition, reinforcing the resilience of its democratic institutions.

Challenges and Mandate of President Lee Jae-myung

• Strong Legislative Backing: President Lee enjoys a majority in the National Assembly, providing legislative freedom to implement his agenda. However, he must ensure that accountability mechanisms do not devolve into political vendettas post-crisis.
• Economic Reforms and Stimulus Promise: With South Korea’s growth forecast slashed to 8% by the central bank in May 2025, Lee has pledged a stimulus package to revive the economy amid concerns over global trade slowdown and tariff pressures.
• Avoiding Political Polarisation: While it is essential to prosecute those responsible for the martial law fiasco, Lee must resist politicising justice. Democratic healing must prioritise transparency, fairness, and institutional restoration over revenge politics.

Recalibrating Foreign Policy and Inter-Korean Dynamics

• Realigning China-U.S. Balancing Act: Lee has reiterated that the U.S. remains South Korea’s core diplomatic partner, but he also seeks to repair strained commercial ties with China, South Korea’s largest trading partner, damaged under Yoon’s administration.
• De-escalation with North Korea: In a symbolic step to reduce tensions, Lee has ordered the shutdown of loudspeakers blaring K-pop and propaganda at the North Korean border, indicating a soft-reset in inter-Korean relations.
• Strategic Autonomy Goals: President Lee advocates a multi-vector foreign policy, aiming for regional peace and strategic diversification. While preserving the U.S. alliance, he aims to enhance ties with other powers to reduce over-dependence on any single axis.

Practice Question:

Q. “South Korea’s recent political transition demonstrates both the vulnerabilities and strengths of democratic institutions in post-authoritarian states.” Discuss in the context of the 2024–25 constitutional crisis and its impact on domestic and foreign policy.