Japanese media reported on the 21st presidential election in Korea held on the 3rd as major news, highlighting that the election of Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung as president is almost certain.
Kyodo News analyzed that Korea will transition to a progressive administration for the first time in three years, noting that public backlash against former President Yoon Seok-youl’s declaration of martial law last December positively influenced Lee's victory.
NHK reported exit poll results through a live broadcast from Gwanghwamun at 9 p.m., introducing Lee as “having grown up in a poor family, worked as a human rights lawyer, and actively communicated through social media (SNS).”
Japanese media focused extensively on the outlook for bilateral relations if Lee was elected president.
Kyodo News reported that Lee criticized Yoon Seok-youl's administration's policy toward Japan as 'humiliating diplomacy,' but emphasized Japan as an important cooperation partner in this election. It added that “although Lee shows a willingness for Korea-Japan cooperation, his support base takes a strict stance toward Japan, making it difficult to foresee bilateral relations.”
Furthermore, Japan sees the need for Korea-Japan and Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation to deter North Korea's pursuit of nuclear and missile development. The news agency added that “(the Japanese government) wants to hold an early meeting between Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Lee to confirm cooperation.”
The Mainichi Shimbun noted that Lee would need to address several issues, including tariff negotiations with the United States, suggesting that “the Korean side might leverage cooperation in shipbuilding desired by the U.S. to conduct negations in a favorable manner.”