The presidential election in South Korea has now reportedly been won by a left-leaning politician who has previously cautioned against the country’s potential overdependence on the United States. This result has the potential to alter Seoul’s relationships with China and North Korea.
With over three-fifths of the ballots counted early Wednesday local time, South Korea’s election commission reported that Lee Jae-myung, a 61-year-old former head of the Democratic Party who escaped an assassination attempt last year, had received 48.8% of the vote.
Kim Moon-soo, a conservative former labor minister and his major opponent, took 42.8% of the vote.
On Wednesday, Kim gave Lee the election.
Since conservative former President Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law on December 3, South Korea’s administration has been in upheaval.
He was eventually removed from office as a result of the brief decree. Since then, the nation has gone through three cycles of acting presidents.
Former factory worker Lee has promised to continue aspects of Yoon’s foreign policy strategies, including working with Japan, pushing North Korea on human rights, and growing the partnership with the United States.
However, Lee, who previously compared himself to Bernie Sanders, does not want South Korea’s connections with China or Russia to be excluded from its relations with the United States.
He refers to Seoul and Washington’s relationship as the “basic axis of our diplomacy.” But Lee stated last month that “that doesn’t mean we should completely rely on the U.S. alliance.”
President Trump’s attempts to get friends to assist in containing China in trade and security issues may be hampered by Lee’s desire for more balanced relations with China and the United States.
China is still South Korea’s biggest commercial partner, despite the fact that the country’s business giants, including Samsung and Hyundai, have significant investments in the United States.
South Korea has a significant defense-industrial base and one of the most advanced military forces in the world. It is also the largest military installation in the United States and is home to some 28,500 American service members.
Lee has stated that South Korea should stay out of a battle between China and Taiwan, even though the United States maintains a sizable military presence there. China has promised to occupy the island, possibly via force. The United States, meanwhile, has pledged to back Taiwan’s defense.
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