Media around the world are paying attention to the South Korean presidential election on 3rd. They predict that the next president will bear the heavy burden of resolving social conflicts and normalizing the economy.
Reuters reported on 3rd, as voting began, that "the next leader must unite a society scarred by attempts at dictatorship and revive an export-dependent economy struggling under the unpredictable protectionist policies pursued by the United States."
The New York Times (NYT), Wall Street Journal (WSJ), and China's Xinhua News Agency also focused on the counting situation.
NYT headlined, "South Korea's new leader inherits a divided nation in a chaotic world" noting, "the next president faces the heavy responsibility of soothing a nation split after months of political turmoil and restoring stability."
WSJ noted, "South Korea has experienced three months of presidential acting administrations in recent months, and now the people will cast their votes to end the leadership vacuum," adding that "the outcome of this election will determine the direction of trade negotiations with the United States and the relationships with China and North Korea."
Major U.S. media evaluated that this election signifies Korea, which has virtually been absent from the international stage for half a year since the state of emergency on Dec. 3 of last year, intends to put an end to political chaos and restart.
They introduced economic and diplomatic pledges for each presidential candidate, particularly focusing on tariff issues and the redefinition of the role of U.S. forces stationed in Korea. They also predicted that the result of the upcoming presidential election would have ripple effects on the security dynamics across the Asia-Pacific region.
NYT mentioned on this day issues such as gender and generational conflicts, slowing economic growth, and deepening income inequality, stating that "the new president must build ties with U.S. President Donald Trump, who wants allies to bear a greater share of defense costs," and that "Korea also needs to respond to the increasing threat of North Korean nuclear weapons and new military cooperation between North Korea and Russia."
NYT predicted the day before that if Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung were to be elected, "there is a strong possibility that Korea will change its foreign policy framework significantly to improve relations with North Korea and China."
The Washington Post (WP) pointed out tariffs as the biggest challenge that the next president will face, stating that "they must confront Trump's capricious attitude toward allies and the perspective that views Korea as a 'money-making tool.'"
It particularly noted that "progressive presidents in Korea tend to seek a balance between security-dependent Washington and economically significant Beijing," while adding that "although candidate Lee Jae-myung emphasized U.S.-Japan cooperation, Washington experts harbor doubts based on his past statements."
It continued, stating that "whoever is elected will be burdened by public pressure to demand nuclear armament," noting that "this stems from anxiety that the U.S. willingness to defend Korea against a nuclear-capable North Korea is diminishing."