South Korean Opposition Leader Wins Presidential Elections

Center-left Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung won South Korea’s presidential election Tuesday, setting up the opposition leader to shepherd a deeply polarized country through economic uncertainty and a realignment in foreign policy following the impeachment of his predecessor, the Washington Post reported. 

Lee secured 49.4 percent of the vote, defeating his conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, who garnered 41.2 percent, the polls indicated. 

The country’s election commission said turnout was more than 79 percent, the highest for a presidential election since 1997, according to the Guardian. 

The special election was triggered by the removal of President Yoon Suk Yeol from office in April following his controversial martial law decree in December, which sparked six months of political instability.  

Lee took office Wednesday and plans to pursue a sweeping agenda as his party holds a majority in parliament. 

Even so, political analysts said Lee will inherit a myriad of challenges, including a polarized country, a slowing economy, and tense relations with both Washington and Beijing.  

Lee has pledged to revise laws to tighten the conditions required for a declaration of martial law. He has also pledged to support small- and medium-sized businesses to spur economic recovery, Japan’s Kyodo News wrote. 

During his campaign, he branded himself as a “centrist-conservative,” moving away from his usual leftist rhetoric to appeal to moderates and also conservatives disillusioned by Yoon’s administration. 

One of the chief tasks will be to negotiate with the Trump administration, as Washington prepares to impose steep tariffs on steel and aluminum alongside 25 percent levies on cars. 

On Monday, just ahead of the election, Lee told a radio host: “I would even crawl under (Trump’s) legs if necessary” to secure the best outcome for South Koreans. 

Lee has also criticized his predecessor, Yoon, for taking a more antagonistic approach against China and insisted that diplomatic engagement with Beijing is critical, given China’s status as South Korea’s top trading partner. 

Meanwhile, Lee has called for renewed dialogue with North Korea in order to curb its nuclear program. 

Still, analysts remain skeptical of any imminent breakthrough given Pyongyang’s growing alignment with Russia, which has seen the country send troops to assist Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.