This is the 1420th most frequent Korean word.
이끄는
"Leading" or "guiding."
The word '이끄는' here is used to describe someone performing the act of leading, specifically being a noun modifier for the word '리더' (leader).
그는 항상 팀을 이끄는 리더였다.
He was always a leader who led the team.
'이끄는' in this sentence modifies '빛' (light) to indicate its function of guiding through darkness.
어두운 길을 이끄는 빛이 필요하다.
A light that guides through the dark path is needed.
The word '이끄는' is used here to describe the act of leading the change, functioning as part of a larger verb phrase.