[The Editors' Verdict] The First President Chosen by 17 Million Voters

President Lee Jaemyung received 49.42% of the vote in the 21st presidential election. A total of 17,287,513 voters chose him. In the history of South Korean politics, Lee is the only politician to have received over 17 million votes in a single election.

This was not a matter of chance. When Lee ran for mayor of Seongnam in 2010, he was chosen by 201,047 voters. The word-of-mouth among Seongnam citizens that "he does a good job when entrusted with work" spread throughout Gyeonggi Province. By the time he ran for governor of Gyeonggi Province in 2018, his supporters had increased to 3,370,621. The reputation among Gyeonggi residents ultimately became the foundation for his victory in the 6·3 presidential election.

Until the record was broken in the 6·3 presidential election, the previous record for the highest number of votes was held by former President Yoon Sukyeol. The 16,390,000 votes he received in the 2022 presidential election seemed like a record that would not be easily surpassed. The fact that the largest number of votes in Korean political history went to someone accused of being the ringleader of the 12·3 Martial Law Rebellion is an irony of Korean politics.

The seemingly unbreakable record of 16,390,000 votes was surpassed in the 6·3 early presidential election. Lee began his five-year term with the title of the politician who received the most votes in any election. The reason he is called the most powerful president is also related to the situation in the National Assembly. Pro-government seats number as many as 190. Nearly two-thirds of all members of the National Assembly have tightened their shoelaces to ensure the success of Lee's political agenda.

Now, will the Lee Jaemyung administration be able to travel a smooth political road? The question mark remains because of the unsettling signals contained in the results of the 6·3 presidential election. The differences in perception based on ideology, region, generation, and gender are more serious than expected. The shadow of antagonism toward each other deepened during the election process. This presents a burden for governance.

There are also those who look on with cynicism. Some may be waiting for the day of retaliation, bearing the humiliation of defeat in the presidential election in their hearts. Only by demonstrating a politics of magnanimity that embraces them can the Lee administration increase the likelihood of a smooth landing.

The clues to the answer lie in the background that led to the 6·3 presidential election. Former President Yoon failed to embrace those who had not chosen him. He did not regard the opposition as a partner in governance. He tried to suppress critical public opinion by force. As it became known that he distanced himself from those who spoke uncomfortable truths, only flatterers gathered around him. Those who had enjoyed the sweet taste of power sought their own survival when the Yoon administration fell into crisis. That is how the Yoon Sukyeol administration collapsed.

President Lee understands better than anyone the sense of concern and frustration that the opposition felt during the Yoon administration. By respecting differences in thinking and reflecting on oneself from the opponent's perspective, it is possible to find common ground for compromise. Running the government in a way that addresses the opponent’s grievances is the most effective way to overcome cynicism. Power shines brighter when exercised with restraint.

President Lee's "last presidential election" is not yet over. There are those who did not vote for candidate Lee Jaemyung, but still hope he will do well. Efforts must be made so that the 14,390,000 people who chose candidate number 2, and the 2,910,000 who chose candidate number 4, become strong supporters of the Lee administration.

"Integration is the mark of competence, while division is the result of incompetence."

Everything is contained in the message President Lee delivered to the people after his inauguration oath.