What happened to South Korea's progressive movement?

Once a socialist, presidential front-runner Lee Jae-myung says he's a centrist conservative

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2025-05-27 Lee JM

South Korea's presidential front-runner Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party is seen ahead of a third televised presidential debate for the June 3 presidential election, in Seoul on May 27. © Reuters

Haeryun Kang is a journalist and filmmaker in Seoul. She is currently directing the feature documentary "Naro's Search for Space."

When former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Dec. 3, he probably had no idea how much mess he would create in the ensuing months. Martial law ended after six hours, rejected by the National Assembly. Millions protested on the streets, dividing the country into pro- and anti-Yoon camps, eventually leading to his impeachment in early April. Now, as South Korea races toward a sudden presidential election on June 3, the shadow of Yoon's self-inflicted constitutional crisis trails behind the candidates.

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