Lee Jae-myung the newly inaugurated 14th President of South Korea, is a politician and lawyer who previously held office as the sixth governor of Gyeonggi Province from 2018 to 2021, as the leader of the Democratic Party and as the member of the National Assembly for Gyeyang B from 2022 to 2025.

He was born to a poor family in Andong on the 8th of December in 1963.

Lee became a factory worker after primary school and sustained a severe arm injury in a factory accident, resulting in a lifelong disability. He earned middle and high school equivalency diplomas and studied at Chung-Ang University, earning his law degree in 1986.

He became a human rights lawyer, advocating for labor rights and social justice and as a human rights and labour lawyer, Lee organized with Minbyun and advocated for opening a new hospital in Seongnam.

Family & Early Life

Lee Jae-myung is the fifth of seven children and grew up in a humble household. Due to his family’s financial struggles, he often missed out on social activities and depended on his school’s generosity to attend field trips and other extracurricular programs.

He fondly recalls fishing along the creek with friends as one of his favorite pastimes. His first-grade report card described him as quite stubborn, with average grades, but noted that he got along well with his classmates.

When Lee graduated from elementary school, public education in South Korea was no longer free, making it difficult for poor families like his to continue schooling. His father spent much of the family’s income on gambling, prompting the family to leave Andong in search of work.

Work & Struggles

Like many children from underprivileged backgrounds in Korea, Lee began working at a young age instead of attending middle school. He found employment in a handmade necklace factory. After the factory went bankrupt, he moved on to work at a rubber company called Dongma. At the time, he was underage and worked under various pseudonyms to avoid legal issues.

Tragically, he suffered a finger injury at Dongma, and later another serious injury at Daeyang Industry, this time on his wrist joint. The latter injury was never properly treated and led to a permanent disability in his arm. This ultimately exempted him from military service and resulted in his registration as a disabled person.

Education & Career

Despite these hardships, Lee’s determination shone through. He performed exceptionally well in his entrance exams and was admitted to Chung-Ang University on a scholarship. There, he pursued a legal education and went on to pass the bar exam, launching a career as a human rights and labor lawyer.

Frustrated by the limitations of effecting change solely through legal advocacy, Lee shifted his focus to politics.

His political journey began as the Mayor of Seongnam (2010–2018), followed by his tenure as the Governor of Gyeonggi Province (2018–2021)

He reached the peak of his political ambitions
when he became the 14th President of South Korea on June 4, 2025.

Public And World Leaders Reactions

President Lee’s victory follows the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who had declared martial law in December 2024.

His election is seen by many as a restoration of democratic norms and his promises to address economic inequality and pursue diplomacy have resonated with a significant portion of the electorate.

X user, Hikari tweeted: “Lee Jae Myung was stabbed in the neck while holding press conference and last December he climbed into the parliament hall just to vote to end the martial law. Yeah he deserves to win President.”

The prime minister of India Narendra Mondi also wished the president congratulations on X saying: “Congratulations to Mr Lee Jae-Myung on being elected as the President of the Republic of Korea. Look forward to working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership.”

President Lee Jae-myung’s rise from factory worker to president reflects a life shaped by hardship, resilience, and public service. His leadership marks a return to democratic stability in South Korea, and his story continues to inspire both hope and scrutiny at home and abroad.

Ukrainian intelligence forces have claimed responsibility for a fresh sabotage mission targeting the bridge connecting Crimea to mainland Russia via the Kerch Strait—an attack that follows a high-profile drone assault on Russia’s bomber fleet just days prior.

According to a statement, video, and photo posted on the agency’s official Telegram channel, the planning and execution of the bridge mission had been underway for several months. “SBU agents mined the supports of this illegal facility,” the statement read. “And today, without any civilian casualties, at 4:44 am the first explosive device was activated.”

The SBU described major structural harm beneath the waterline, stating, “The underwater supports of the piers were severely damaged at the bottom level — 1,100 kg of explosives in TNT equivalent contributed to this. In fact, the bridge is in a state of emergency.”

SBU director Vasyl Malyuk added, “Previously, we hit the Crimean Bridge twice in 2022 and 2023. So, today we continued this tradition under water.”

Bridge administrators reported a temporary closure of the crossing following the incident. Official Russian responses, including from the Defense Ministry, had not been issued at the time of the statement.

Elsewhere, ongoing Russian strikes on Ukrainian urban areas killed at least eight civilians and left more than 50 injured overnight. According to Ukrainian authorities, 112 drones were launched across the country, 75 of which were intercepted before causing damage. Affected areas included 11 separate locations.

The most serious casualties were reported in regions near the front lines. In Sumy, local officials said four people were killed and 28 others hurt in a cluster rocket attack, with multiple explosions occurring in a busy part of the city. “Savage strike” and “fully deliberate attack on civilians” were the words President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used to describe the incident in a social media post.

In Kharkiv, shelling took three lives and injured six others, while one death and 13 injuries were reported in Kherson due to Russian fire. Authorities also confirmed five people were wounded in Chernihiv and five more in the coastal city of Odesa.

Zelenskyy commented that Russia’s actions show a lack of real intent to find a peaceful resolution, despite current diplomatic efforts. Delegations from both Ukraine and Russia met for renewed talks in Istanbul this week, marking their second round of face-to-face negotiations since May and the first since spring 2022.

Kyiv is requesting a full one-month truce to enable focused peace discussions. Prior to the talks, Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine wants all prisoners released and abducted Ukrainian children returned from Russia. He also signaled willingness to eventually speak directly with President Vladimir Putin.

Russia, in turn, presented a set of demands that echo its earlier positions from the beginning of the war. In its “peace memorandum,” Russia proposed that Ukraine fully exit four territories Moscow claims—Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk—even those where its troops do not maintain full control. The Kremlin also insisted on Ukraine halting all foreign weapons imports and ending military mobilization, conditions Ukraine has firmly dismissed.

Additionally, Russia is calling for restrictions on Ukraine’s military size, a permanent ban on joining NATO, international recognition of its control over annexed Ukrainian land, lifting of sanctions, and an end to demands for reparations.

Following the Istanbul meeting, a Kremlin representative confirmed that no meaningful advancements had been made, remarking, “It would be wrong to expect any immediate decisions or breakthroughs here. But work is ongoing.” He also downplayed the likelihood of a summit involving Putin, Zelenskyy, and Donald Trump happening soon.

Meanwhile, Dmitry Medvedev, now serving as deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, used Telegram to emphasize that the negotiations were not about compromise. He said the goal was “not meant to achieve a compromise peace based on some imaginary and unrealistic conditions invented by others, but rather to secure our swift victory and the complete destruction” of Zelenskyy’s government.

In a fresh statement, Zelenskyy stressed, “it is obvious: without global pressure — without decisive actions from the United States, Europe, and everyone in the world who has the power — Putin will not agree even to a ceasefire.” He continued, “Not a single day goes by without Russia striking Ukrainian cities and villages.”

“Every day, we lose our people to Russian terror. Every day, Russia gives new reasons for tougher sanctions and stronger support for our defense. I am grateful to everyone around the world who is promoting exactly this agenda: sanctions for aggression and the killing of people, and assistance in defending the lives of Ukrainians.”

That same night, Ukraine conducted strikes deeper inside Russian territory. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces brought down eight Ukrainian drones during the night.

This came on the heels of Ukraine’s latest long-range assault targeting Russian military infrastructure. In that earlier mission, drones hidden in transport vehicles struck several key airfields within Russia. Zelenskyy characterized that effort as a “strategic operation” in an interview, saying it “is definitely reducing Russia’s potential, and demonstrates that Ukraine is working on certain steps.”

“Unless they will stop, we will continue,” he stated.

Responding to questions about the level of American support, Zelenskyy said, “We are looking for very strong steps on the part of President Trump to support the sanctions and to force President Putin to stop this war, or at least proceed with the first stage of putting an end to this war — that is the ceasefire.”

On Tuesday, aid efforts across Gaza came to a standstill after military officials declared that all roads leading to distribution locations would be treated as “combat zones,” prompting deepening concern for both relief workers and the besieged population.

An organization responsible for coordinating relief in the area said it had suspended operations to allow for “update, organisation and efficiency improvements works.” Still, observers questioned the reasoning and timing behind the halt, suggesting it could conceal more troubling motives related to safety and access.

Tragic scenes unfolded near one of the humanitarian sites when, according to local authorities affiliated with Hamas, 27 individuals were fatally shot. This was reportedly the third lethal occurrence in recent days around these food and aid points.

Military representatives stated that troops had fired their weapons after “identifying suspects who moved towards them, deviating from the designated access routes.” The statement did not include details confirming the threat posed by those shot.

“This is becoming a pattern of impunity,” stated one aid worker affiliated with a medical relief group. “People are starving and risking their lives just to collect flour. Now even that has become a death sentence.”

Meanwhile, in another area of southern Gaza, an airstrike devastated a school being used as emergency shelter by families fleeing earlier violence. The attack reportedly left eight dead and several more injured. First responders described chaotic conditions as they navigated debris-strewn roads in search of survivors.

Warnings have repeatedly been issued by humanitarian leaders demanding that safe corridors for aid be established and respected. With over a million people displaced and no consistent access to essentials, the worsening crisis has triggered growing alarm. Officials have cautioned that without rapid support, famine could set in imminently.

Those managing the main relief operations have already come under fire for allegedly working too closely with military forces and for failing to maintain impartiality in distributing supplies. The most recent shutdown, coupled with surging violence, has brought their practices into sharper focus.

Critics worldwide have begun urging greater accountability from both the forces conducting military operations and the countries that support them. But for those trapped in Gaza, the political rhetoric offers little relief. Each passing day without basic necessities like food, water, and safety deepens the desperation and the risk.