Lee Jae-myung Wins South Korean Presidency Amid National Reckoning, As Church Leaders Point to Revival
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Liberal opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has emerged victorious in South Korea’s snap presidential election, winning a projected 51.7% of the national vote according to a joint exit poll conducted by KBS, MBC, and SBS. His conservative rival, Kim Moon-soo, trailed with 39.3%, following months of national upheaval after the ouster of former president Yoon Suk Yeol.
The vote comes just two months after Yoon was removed from office by the Constitutional Court, following his failed attempt to declare martial law on December 3, 2024. The attempted power grab triggered mass protests, a constitutional crisis, and what many in the nation have called a moment of soul-searching–not only politically, but spiritually.
According to church leaders across South Korea, the instability of recent months has created fertile ground for a quiet but growing spiritual revival.
“When governments fall and institutions shake, the Church has an opportunity to rise,” said Rev. Choi Dong-hwan, senior pastor at Seoul’s Full Gospel Church. “People are returning to prayer, fasting, and repentance. We’ve seen more baptisms in the past six months than in the previous two years combined.”
Christian leaders report that weekly prayer gatherings have swelled in size, and many congregations have begun holding interdenominational worship nights aimed at national healing. A spokesperson from the Korea Evangelical Fellowship confirmed that over 200 churches participated in a 40-day nationwide prayer campaign leading up to the election.
Lee, who ran on a platform of constitutional reform and accountability, has pledged to ensure that no future president can impose martial law without legislative oversight. He has also promised to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the December 3 incident but has called for leniency toward military officials who resisted the order.
“The people have rendered judgment,” said Democratic Party Chairman Park Chan-dae. “This is a scolding to the civil war regime and a cry for peace and restoration.”
For many evangelical leaders, that restoration is not just political.
“This isn’t just about new leadership–it’s about national repentance,” said Dr. Hana Kim of the Korean Christian Research Institute. “The Church is regaining its prophetic voice, reminding the nation of righteousness and justice as the foundation of our future.”
The Church in South Korea has long played a role in the nation’s democratic and spiritual life, particularly since its explosive growth following the Korean War. From less than 2% Christian in the 1960s, the country is now home to one of the largest concentrations of megachurches in the world. But recent decades have seen a decline in church attendance–until now.
Tuesday’s high voter turnout, with 78% of eligible citizens casting ballots, suggests the nation is paying close attention. And with the immediate swearing-in of Lee Jae-myung set for Wednesday, the country moves swiftly into a new chapter–one that both political analysts and pastors alike hope will be marked by humility, unity, and revival.
As Rev. Choi put it: “Political change may last five years. But revival–true revival–can last a generation.”
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