Lee Jae-myung Wins South Korean Election After Contentious Campaign
Lee Jae-myung’s victory in the South Korean presidential election can be attributed to his campaign framing the election as a referendum against the threat of a military coup, a fear stemming from former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s actions. Despite facing criminal charges and previous electoral defeat, Lee successfully united a diverse electorate around this central issue. However, his presidency will immediately be challenged by critical foreign policy issues, particularly tense negotiations with President Trump regarding US troop presence in South Korea and the delicate balance between US and Chinese relations. Lee’s past skepticism towards the US alliance, while softened during the campaign, presents a potential point of friction with Washington.
John Q. Hosedrinker