Lee Jae-myung’s journey to the South Korean presidency reflects the nation’s transformation from poverty to economic prominence. Born in 1963 into a struggling family, Lee overcame adversity, including dropping out of school and working in factories, eventually becoming a lawyer and politician known for his populist policies. After a narrow loss in the 2022 presidential election, he secured the Democratic Party’s nomination and won, pledging to focus on economic investment, particularly in artificial intelligence, and to improve relations with North Korea while maintaining the US-Korea security alliance.
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