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The poisoned chalice of South Korea's presidency

South Korea's ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee (L) leave a polling station after voting during the presidential election in Seoul on June 3, 2025. [AFP]

Lee Jae-myung became South Korea's latest president Wednesday -- but history indicates he could have been handed something of a poisoned chalice.

Out of South Korea's 14 post-independence leaders, an overwhelming majority have been removed in coups, killed, jailed after their time in office or faced investigations for corruption.

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