South Korea’s Lee Jae-myung Poised for Victory in Snap Presidential Election

South Korea’s liberal opposition candidate, Lee Jae-myung, appears set to win the country’s snap presidential election, according to joint exit polls and early vote counts.

The election, held amid political turbulence following the abrupt imposition and subsequent lifting of martial law by ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, has drawn intense domestic and international scrutiny.

With over 31% of ballots counted as of 11:15 p.m., Lee, representing the Democratic Party, led with more than 48% of the vote, ahead of conservative rival Kim Moon Soo, who trailed with 43%.

A Shift in Leadership, But Continuity in Foreign Policy?

While Lee’s potential victory marks a significant political shift, experts caution that a major change in South Korea’s foreign policy is unlikely in the near term. Despite past criticism of leaning toward China and North Korea, Lee has consistently reiterated the importance of South Korea’s alliance with the United States as the cornerstone of its foreign policy.

“Our alliance with the U.S. remains the bedrock of South Korea’s security and diplomacy,” Lee has emphasized in recent speeches.

Pressing Global Challenges Ahead

The incoming administration will face immediate foreign policy challenges, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and North Korea’s advancing nuclear weapons program. Analysts note, however, that any South Korean president will face limited leverage in altering these dynamics to Seoul’s favor.

Lee’s anticipated win would cap months of unrest and offer a potential path to stability after a volatile chapter in the nation’s politics. As vote counting continues into the night, attention now turns to how his administration will navigate both domestic healing and global headwinds.