New Delhi, June 4 -- Riding a wave of strong support after the impeachment and removal of his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea's new President Lee Jae-myung is unlikely to enjoy a smooth start. As the Liberal leader takes office today, he inherits a nation scarred by martial law and a heavy burden left behind by his predecessor.

He faces one of the most formidable sets of challenges any South Korean leader has encountered in the past three decades - tariff threat from Donald Trump, nuclear-arm neighbour Kim Jong-un, political turmoil and South Korea's own economic slump. The list is long and the hopes are high.

Lee won 49.42 per cent of the nearly 35 million votes cast while conservative rival Kim Moon-soo took 41.15 per cent in t...