Lee faces the most daunting set of challenges for a South Korean leader in nearly three decades, ranging from healing a country scarred by the martial law attempt to tackling unpredictable U.S. protectionist moves.

Images from the election of South Korea's new president, liberal Lee Jae-myung, are everything you’d expect to see in one of the world’s most vibrant democracies. Peaceful. Orderly. And, because this is South Korea,

The U.S. ally has been without a permanent leader since late last year, when Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached over his botched declaration of martial law.