SKo Democratics name 2022 presidential contender

South Korea's ruling liberal party nominated its candidate for next year's presidential elections on Sunday, selecting a maverick politician known for his outspoken views who is currently the race's front-runner.

Lee Jae-myung’s nomination as the Democratic Party presidential candidate comes despite his rivals' efforts to depict him as a dangerous populist and link him to a snowballing real estate scandal. Lee has vowed to fight economic inequality, introduce a universal basic income and resume reconciliation projects with North Korea.

Party officials announced Lee had collected about 50.3% of all votes cast during the race, defeating three challengers in a party primary that ended on Sunday. Lee, 56, is the governor of South Korea’s most populous Gyeonggi province that surrounds the capital of Seoul.