Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea’s Democratic Party (DP), has stepped down from his position as chairman, paving the way for a potential run for reelection as the party supremo. According to Yonhap news agency, the South Korean politician announced his resignation on Monday, citing the need to prepare for another term leading the party. The DP’s national convention, scheduled for August, will see the party choose its new leader, with Lee’s resignation potentially signaling his intention to contest for the position.
Lee, currently serving as a member of the South Korean National Assembly, was the DP’s nominee in the 2022 presidential elections. His political career began in 2005 after a successful legal career, following a workplace injury that forced him to abandon his early career as a factory worker. Lee’s political journey saw him become the Mayor of Seongnam in 2010 and later the 35th Governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2018 to 2022.
The resignation comes on the heels of a near-fatal incident in January 2024, where Lee was stabbed at an airport construction site in Gadeokdo, Busan. The incident, a brutal assassination attempt, saw Lee hospitalized at Pusan National University. The suspect, arrested at the scene, confessed to his motive of assassinating the South Korean leader.
As per the DP’s rules, a party chair must relinquish their leadership position to be eligible to contest for the position again. Following Lee’s resignation, DP floor leader Park Chan-dae will assume the role of acting leader until the August convention.
