Seoul: Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has been declared Korea's president following his victory in the presidential election Tuesday. The snap election was triggered by the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached in April for his abrupt declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. The six months since that incident have been marked by severe political turmoil. Polarization reached new heights as conservatives and liberals clashed both in the streets and across social media. Healing this political rift is now Lee's most urgent challenge. Beyond national unity, the newly elected president must also address a fragile economy weakened by internal instability and U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive tariff policies. Lee's leadership will face immediate and difficult tests as he attempts to enact essential reforms.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee appears to understand the weight of his responsibilities from the outset. He emphasized unity and economic growth as the two top policy priorities of his administration. In his inaugural speech on Wednesday, he pledged to be a leader who serves, not rules, the people from all walks of life. He stated his commitment to inclusive leadership, stressing that it no longer matters which candidate people supported in the election. Referencing the Korean word for president, "dae-tong-ryeong," which literally means "a great leader who unites the people," he reaffirmed his intention to serve all citizens, regardless of gender, background or other differences.

Lee described his government's economic direction as a pragmatic market economy. He noted that he would adopt any effective policy - regardless of whether it originated from the Park Chung-hee era of the 1960s and 1970s or the 1998-2003 Kim Dae-jung administration - so long as it proved beneficial.

In a victory speech delivered early Wednesday morning in front of the National Assembly, he outlined four policy priorities for his administration: resilient democracy, economic recovery, public safety, and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Lee pledged to restore democratic norms, undermined by Yoon's martial law declaration, and to foster mutual respect among citizens despite ideological differences. He emphasized economic revival as a top priority and vowed to implement proactive safety measures in response to a series of incidents under the previous administration that took the lives of many people - though he did not specify which events he was referencing. "In the past, people were left wondering what the purpose of a state was, as the previous government failed to protect them," he said. He also expressed a commitment to engaging North Korea in dialogue aimed at reconciliation and lasting peace.

Lee's focus on unity and economic recovery is commendable - and essential. Yet these are no easy tasks. The election results once again highlighted Korea's stark East-West divide. Lee dominated in the liberal Jeolla provinces, while his rival Kim secured sweeping support in the conservative strongholds of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province. The nation remains deeply polarized. Though Lee called for unity, he fell short of explaining how he intends to achieve it. His use of the phrase "ending insurrection" prompted speculation about whether it signals political retaliation. Lee should refrain from any kind of retaliation and focus on unifying the nation regardless of political inclinations. He should clarify what he meant by that phrase, as vague rhetoric risks inflaming tensions.

There are valuable lessons to be drawn from former President Moon Jae-in's failed attempt at political reform. Under Moon, reform was perceived as a purge, targeting conservative officials. Hundreds of government personnel tied to former President Park Geun-hye were investigated, and some tragically took their own lives during the probes. Ironically, Yoon Suk Yeol led those investigations as a prosecutor, along with his then-colleague Han Dong-hoon. Yoon later successfully ran in the 2022 presidential election on the conservative People Power Party's ticket. Yoon's rapid rise and dramatic fall reflect the perils of weaponizing political reform for retribution. The cycle of vengeance and instability has produced a string of ill-fated presidencies - an outcome Lee must work to avoid.

As the saying goes, "Those who live by the sword die by the sword." Political retaliation only breeds more division and ultimately harms those who wield it. Lee must chart a different path - one grounded in restraint, dialogue, and the long-term interests of the nation.