Center left candidate, Lee Jae-Myung, immediately took command of a country facing a scenario of political chaos by the ephemeral statement of martial law in December 2024
The new president of , he warned on Wednesday against commercial protectionism, which threatens the “survival” of his country, taking power a few hours after being declared winner in Tuesday’s early election (3). Lee stated in the speech that he will seek a “dialogue” with North Korea to improve relations with the neighboring country, which has nuclear weapons.
The center-left candidate immediately took command of a country facing a scenario of political chaos for the ephemeral statement of martial law in December 2024. The new president won conservative candidate Kim Moon-Solo, from the deposed leader party who accepted the defeat.
In a normal presidential election in South Korea, the winner has a period of transition of months, but because he was dealt with an early vote, the beginning of the Lee government was immediate. “The rapid changes in the world order, such as growing protectionism and supply chain restructuring, represent a threat to our survival,” Lee, 61, said, in reference to chaos caused by the tariffs of US President Donald Trump. Lee took office a few hours before Washington imposed 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, two crucial exports of Seoul.
Dialogue with North Korea
In his speech, Lee also promised to “continue dialogue, communication and cooperation” with North Korea, “to seek a path towards peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity.” “No matter how expensive, peace is better than war,” Lee said when he promises to “dissuade the North Korean nuclear and military provocations, while opening communication channels.”
Relations between the two Koreas, which remain technically at war, have deteriorated in recent years, amid the growing arms of Pyongyang.lee began the first day in office with the traditional Military High Command, which formally confirmed the transfer of operational control of the country. between the two Asian countries and the United States.
The American Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, congratulated Lee and said that the two countries “share a solid commitment” to his alliance, based on the mutual defense treaty, “shared values and deep economic ties.” The South Koreans attended the ballot box to elect the new head of state and end six months of political chaos. Lee will face several problems, including the disorder caused by American tariffs, which reached South Korea’s exporting economy. You will also have to deal with one of the lowest birth rates in the world.
‘Referendo about Yoon’
Since the attempt to apply martial law, the country has had several interim presidents. Yoon was removed from office, accused of insurrection, detained after weeks of resistance and deprived by the Constitutional Court. The country, 52 million, which moved to the democratic regime in 1987, is the scenario of a polarization after the political crisis caused by martial law.
“Research indicates that the election is considered a referendum on the previous government,” Kang Joo Hyun, professor of political science at Sookmyung University, told AFP. On the night of martial law, former lawyer Lee Jae Myung broadcast his frantic race live towards Parliament and managed to join nearly 200 deputies to vote for a motion that frustrated Yoon’s initiative.
Last year, he was the target of an attempted murder that left him on the verge of death, which is why he campaigned wearing a bulletproof vest and spoke his speeches protected by bulletproof glasses.
*With information from AFP
