At the 20th presidential election held on March 9, South Koreans chose opposition party candidate Sukyeol Yoon by giving 16,394,815 votes (48.56%) while giving 16,147,738 (47.83%) to defected ruling party candidate Jaemyung Lee

Lee led the race at first but was caught up by Yoon on the point ballot counting reached over the half on 00:32 on March 10. Yoon had kept the pace from Lee at 1% gap until the final counting. Koreans in 10 cities and provinces favored Yoon including Seoul that had the casting vote while 7 for Lee including Honam, Sejong, Incheon and Jeju. 

Yoon has had only 8 months of political career while Lee stepped into the political word in 2005 and proved his administrative talent and capability during his 19th and 20th mayor's terms of Seongnam City.

Yoon said after confirming the winning "I've learned a lot during the campaign what it takes to be the leader of the nation and how to listen to the people. The race has ended now and I think we all have to work together."

Yoon pledged as follows: recovering growth bridge for SME and venture, improving venture stock options, stabilizing logistics for SME, enhancing financial support for SME, family business succession for SME, ESG support for SME and venture, customized digital operation system for SME, strengthening competitiveness for SME, financial support for micro business owners alongside advanced compensation on pandemic-caused business loss and low interest rate loans. Also providing supports include the much damaged tourist industry. 

As for the real estate market, on which the Democratic Party and Lee subsequently lost supporters at large, Yoon promised to bring back the market by lifting tough regulations the Dem's imposed. Yoon especially pointed out easing the recapture of excess earnings on re-building, increasing the floor area ratio by 500%, supplying more than 100,000 housings and reviewing the tax imposed even on unrealized assets from real estate investment. 

At the press conference after winning the election, Yoon said "I've gone through many trials since I stepped into political world. Whenever I faced challenges, I always threw questions to myself 'why people called me?' and 'what can I do for the people?' As a prosecutor, I have worked for the last 26 years for only fairness and justice without yielding to power and I believe the people have trust in me. That's why I'm here today and I take this grave role as the leader of the nation again with fairness and justice."

The first official move he made as the newly elected president, Yoon paid a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery with his campaign handlers. <PowerKorea>

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