2025 Presidential Election Results: Politics of Balance and Responsibility, Lee Jae-myung Wins by 8.27% Margin

Into the Storm: The Shadows Cast by Martial Law and Presidential Impeachment on the Election Outcome

The 2025 presidential election was held amid an unprecedented wave of drama. On December 3rd, South Korea experienced political upheaval unlike anything before. The shocking declarations of martial law and the impeachment of the sitting president occurred in rapid succession, sending citizens to the polls amid confusion and anxiety.

These events had a profound impact on the election results. According to analysis by the Citizens’ Coalition for Economic Justice, this election was more than a mere change of power—it was a “process of confirming political resolution through numbers.” Voters sought balance rather than extreme choices.

Noteworthy points include:

1. Balance Between Progressives and Conservatives: Although candidate Lee Jae-myung emerged victorious, he received less than 50% of the votes. Meanwhile, the combined vote share of conservative candidates Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok closely rivaled his. This reflects voters’ deliberate choice of equilibrium over polarization.

2. Emphasis on Responsible Politics: The martial law declaration and impeachment crisis heightened public expectations of political accountability. This was evident as candidate Lee Jun-seok took full responsibility for his poor showing at the polls.

3. Deepening Regional Differences: While Lee Jae-myung won nationwide, Kim Moon-soo led in Gangwon Province. This points to the varied regional impacts of the martial law and impeachment events.

In these ways, the events of December 3rd cast a long shadow over the election results. Despite confusion, voters made cool-headed decisions demanding balance and responsibility—signaling significant shifts ahead in the political landscape.

An Unprecedented Balancing Act in Voting: The Tightrope Walk Between Progressives and Conservatives

The results of the 2025 21st presidential election unfolded with more suspense than ever before. In an election where no candidate surpassed the majority threshold, what exactly did the voters choose?

The most striking aspect of this election, which concluded with Lee Jae-myung’s victory, was the sense of ‘balance.’ Although Lee claimed victory without securing more than 50% of the vote, Kim Moon-soo launched an unexpected fierce challenge by surpassing 40%. Adding to the tension, Lee Jun-seok entered the race, garnering less than 10% but decisively influencing the election’s outcome.

These results reveal that voters were not simply rallying behind one camp but were instead precariously walking a tightrope between progressive and conservative options. Notably:

1. Lee Jae-myung’s Victory, Yet No Majority: Lee’s win without crossing the 50% threshold reflects voters’ cautious and deliberate decisions.

2. Kim Moon-soo’s Surprising Surge: Securing over 40% of the vote underscores the resilience of the conservative faction and foreshadows a significant variable in the future political landscape.

3. Lee Jun-seok’s Responsible Acceptance of Defeat: Despite a modest 7.7% vote share, Lee’s dignified acceptance of responsibility signals the emergence of a new political culture.

This election outcome clearly highlights that voters are demanding a ‘balanced politics,’ going beyond a mere regime change. The result, which tipped neither wholly towards progressives nor conservatives, sends a powerful message to the political sphere moving forward.

Ultimately, the 2025 presidential election stands as a historic moment where voters themselves embodied the core democratic principle of ‘checks and balances.’ The political world now watches keenly to see how this message will be received and put into practice.

The Truth Behind the Numbers and the Pitfalls of Exit Polls: Predictions vs. Reality in Election Results

Predictions were right, but the margin wasn’t? Divided public sentiment across the nation and regions—‘Exit Polls’ uncover the complex voter psychology they failed to fully grasp.

The results of the 2025 21st Presidential Election starkly revealed the limits of exit polls and the intricate nature of actual voting behavior. The joint exit polls by the three major broadcasters accurately predicted Lee Jae-myung’s victory but failed to capture the true margin. This underscores the need for a deeper understanding that goes beyond simple forecasts in analyzing election outcomes.

The Gap Between Exit Polls and Actual Election Results

Exit polls predicted Lee Jae-myung’s vote share to be under 50%, which was accurate. However, the actual margin of 8.27 percentage points far exceeded the 5 percentage points forecast by the exit polls. This discrepancy can be explained by the following factors:

1. Diverse Voting Patterns by Region: In Gangwon Province, Kim Moon-soo led with 47.3%, surpassing Lee Jae-myung’s 43.95%. This suggests that nationwide exit polls did not sufficiently account for regional characteristics.

2. Last-Minute Voter Swings: Choices made by voters right before casting their ballots may not have been reflected in the exit polls.

3. Sampling Errors: The method of sampling in exit polls might not have perfectly represented the actual voter composition.

The Limitations of Exit Polls and Their Implications

Exit polls provide a broad overview of election outcomes, but they have inherent limitations in capturing detailed realities. The gap seen in this election offers key insights:

1. Complexity of Voter Decision-Making: Beyond simple candidate preferences, voters weigh various factors, reflecting a complex decision process that exit polls struggle to capture.

2. Importance of Regional Characteristics: Differences between nationwide and regional results highlight the need to consider local traits in future policy-making.

3. Desire for Political Balance: Even with Lee Jae-myung’s victory, receiving less than 50% of the vote signals voters’ appetite for checks and balances in politics.

Conclusion: The Importance of Interpreting Election Results

This presidential election’s outcome carries meaning beyond mere numbers. The disparity between exit polls and actual results mirrors our society’s intricate political landscape and offers crucial lessons for future policymaking and political strategy. To truly understand election results, one must look beyond surface figures and comprehensively consider voter diversity and regional nuances.

Politics of Integration, Toward a New Path of Balance: What the Election Results Ask of the Future

The new government stands before the challenge of 'national integration,' transcending partisan walls. Is politics that excludes no region or generation truly possible? Expectations and concerns intersect as to where South Korean politics will head from here.

The recent presidential election results demonstrated a new equilibrium point sought by our society, surpassing mere regime change. Despite candidate Lee Jae-myung's victory, his sub-50% vote share sends a clear message that the people still desire checks and balances.

Particularly notable is the variation in voting patterns by region. Just as candidate Kim Moon-soo led in Gangwon Province, the election results clearly revealed differing demands and expectations across regions. This signals the new government cannot rely on a ‘one-size-fits-all’ policy but must adopt tailored approaches that respect regional characteristics.

Moreover, candidate Lee Jun-seok’s low vote count and his acceptance of responsibility present fresh challenges to the political sphere as a whole. Voters no longer tolerate old political methods and are demanding genuine change and innovation.

Future politics will likely be reorganized around two pillars: ‘integration’ and ‘balance.’ Accurately reading the public’s will expressed through the election and reflecting it in policy will stand as the new government’s greatest task. This process goes beyond simple bipartisan cooperation—it aims to resolve conflicts between generations, regions, and social classes, forging a shared vision.

Ultimately, this election has set a new milestone for our politics. How South Korean politics embraces and transforms itself in response to this challenge is now under close watch. The journey toward truly integrated politics and a new path of balance has just begun.