Lee Jae-myung of the centre-left Democratic Party has won the presidential by-election in South Korea.

The election became necessary after the impeachment of Yoon Suk Yeol, who had tried to implement martial law.

Lee secured 49.4% of the vote with Kim Moon-soo of the People’s Power Party (which had been Yoon’s party) winning 41.2%.

Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party managed 8.3%.

Following his win Lee said he would: “become a president who ends the politics of division”.

New tariffs levied by the Trump regime were a key focus of the election, as well as the presence of US troops in South Korea.

In a debate prior to the election Lee had also said that he believed South Korea should stay out of any conflict between China and Taiwan.

[Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/35584501365]


author