Vidostream | News, sport and opinion from the Vidostream's US Edition

https://vidostream.com

How political chaos helped forge South Korea's presidential frontrunner

A political implosion turned controversial politician Lee Jae-myung into a presidential favourite.

Getty Images Lee Jae–myung has emerged from South Korea's recent political crisis as a frontrunner to be the next president

Getty Images Lee Jae–myung has emerged from South Korea's recent political crisis as a frontrunner to be the next president

Before the events of 3 December 2024, Lee Jae–myung's path to South Korea's presidency was littered with obstacles.

Ongoing legal cases, investigations for corruption and allegations of abusing power all looked set to derail the former opposition leader's second presidential bid.

Then a constitutional crisis changed everything.

On that night, former president Yoon Suk Yeol's abortive attempt to invoke martial law set in motion a series of events that appears to have cleared the path for Lee.

Now, as the Democratic Party candidate, he is the frontrunner to win South Korea's election on 3 June.

It's a dramatic reversal of fortunes for the 61-year-old, who at the time of Yoon's martial law declaration stood convicted of making false statements during his last presidential campaign in 2022.

Those charges still cast a long shadow over Lee, and could yet threaten his years-long pursuit of the top job. But they are also just the latest in a string of controversies that have dogged him throughout his political career.

Author: Gavin Butler BBC News Reporting from Singapore, Yuna Ku BBC Korean Reporting from Seoul

Source: BBC News:

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy.
You did not use the site, Click here to remain logged. Timeout: 60 second