On the 4th, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, was elected as the 21st president, and Chinese media reported the news in real-time, paying attention to President Lee's policies toward China and North Korea. On social media, content related to President Lee ranked first in searches. Chinese internet users expressed anticipation for improvements in bilateral relations and visa exemptions.
Chinese media reported relevant news from the night before the outline of the elected candidate was revealed. State-run China Central Television (CCTV) reported in real-time from the announcement of exit poll results at 8 p.m. the day before to around midnight when the election outcome was deemed certain, until the start of the president's term that morning.
Regarding Korea-China relations and North Korean policy, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that "President Lee Jae-myung noted that China is a crucial trade partner for Korea and a country that influences security on the Korean Peninsula, and that he will manage Korea-China relations stably," adding, "North Korean policy should not be a political tool but must focus solely on peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula."
Xinhua News Agency also listed three main factors in an article analyzing the reasons for President Lee Jae-myung's election: ▲voters' demands for a change of government and political stabilization ▲a policy line that aligns with public sentiment in terms of national unity and pragmatism ▲stable domestic and foreign policies such as recovery of livelihoods and practical diplomacy. Xinhua stated that "President Lee Jae-myung captured the centrist vote," adding, "Of course, Korea's politics and society are still divided, so the new president will face a challenging path ahead."
The South Korean presidential election received significant attention online from the day before. On the morning of the election, “Lee Jae-myung elected president of South Korea” was the top search on Baidu. Chinese social media platform Weibo featured hashtags such as “#End of the Korean presidential election voting,” “#Exit poll results indicate Lee Jae-myung is likely to win,” and “#Lee Jae-myung elected president of South Korea,” along with related articles and user posts.
Chinese internet users expressed hopes for improvements in bilateral relations. An influencer with 3.1 million followers stated about President Lee Jae-myung, "Unlike Yoon Suk-yeol, he certainly won't provoke China unnecessarily," adding, "His visit to China will proceed very smoothly and will resolve the stalemate in Korea-China diplomacy."
Chinese internet users also responded with remarks such as, "Being a South Korean president is a dangerous job," "South Korean presidents either change frequently or end up in prison," and "Will President Lee Jae-myung have a smooth term?" Additionally, there were notable reactions like, "Please exempt visas for Chinese citizens" and "Finally, South Korean idols can raise their thumbs and make a 'V' gesture."
President Lee emphasized that the foundation of Korea's diplomacy is the Korea-U.S. alliance, while also noting that there is no need to unnecessarily antagonize China and Russia. At a rally in Daegu last month, President Lee stated, "Just because we cooperate on security with the U.S. and Japan, that doesn't mean we need to be enemies with other countries. We must maintain good relations not just with the U.S. but also with China and Russia, sell goods, and cooperate, right?" He added, "I thanked both China by saying 'xie xie' and Taiwan, too. Whether Taiwan fights with China is none of our business."
In his presidential campaign promises, President Lee highlighted the stabilization of Korea-China relations as a goal for pragmatic diplomacy. He proposed that communication at all levels be strengthened to steadily manage the situation on the Korean Peninsula and establish a regular cooperation system among Korea, China, and Japan to enhance collaboration. He also disclosed a firm stance on dealing with illegal Chinese fishing vessels, stating that diplomatic efforts would be strengthened to devise measures to eradicate illegal fishing by the Chinese government.
China has similarly shown a willingness to improve relations with Korea following U.S. President Donald Trump's re-election. The intention is to forge a friendly relationship with Korea, a neighboring country and ally of the U.S., in response to the tough measures against China by the Trump administration. Last November, China allowed visa-free entry for Koreans, and at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, it met with the South Korean president for the first time in two years. In 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed his intention to visit Korea during a direct meeting with National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik.