South Korea Enters Presidential Elections Amidst Unrest Arising from Martial Law Incident
FIRED UP AND READY TO GO:
Hey there, folks! Steve Inskeep here, and we've got some hot news coming outta South Korea right now. After a snap election for a new president, it looks like the opposition party candidate, Lee Jae-myung, is cruising to a solid victor-y. And let me tell ya, the ruling party is feeling the heat after their former president tried to pull a power play by declaring martial law. Our man on the ground, NPR's Anthony Kuhn, has been chatting with voters and keeping us updated on all the action. So, hi there, Anthony!
ANTHONY KUHN: Hey, Steve!
INSKEEP: So, how much of a neck-and-neck race was this?
KUHN: Not much. Lee Jae-myung has been holding a comfortable 13-point lead the whole time. He won with a commanding 52% of the vote, while his conservative rival only managed to snag 39%. Turnout was reportedly pretty high, folks. This election was like a wake-up call for the voters. The whole martial law situation was a game-changer, and Lee Jae-myung's win is a direct response to that. We talked to a 43-year-old voter named Choi Soo-ji (ph) outside the polls with her young son, and she shared her thoughts about what she saw during martial law.
CHOI SOO-JI: (Speaking Korean).
KUHN: "When we saw the news the next morning, my children got very scared," she said, "and we were also very nervous, wondering what was going on. I just felt so sorry that our children had to experience and see all that, things we had only seen in movies and books."
NS: It's clear that South Korean confidence in their democracy took a huge hit thanks to this whole martial law incident. It ignited a wave of protests and encouraged voters to head to the polls today with a mission to hold their politicians accountable.
INSKEEP: Alright, so this is the new leader for a key US ally. You bet your bottom dollar we're gonna be hearing a lot from him. Mind helping me nail down how to say that name?
KUHN: South Koreans pronounce it Lee Jae-myung.
INSKEEP: Lee Jae-myung got it. You ready to tell us a little bit about the man himself?
KUHN: Well, Lee is a former human rights lawyer who has led the left-of-center opposition Democratic Party. But lately, he's been toning down his liberal policies to appeal to centrist voters. His campaign promises include enhancing checks and balances to limit presidential power, avoiding power grabs like the martial law incident, and implementing a stronger safety net that includes subsidies for young families to boost the country's plunging birth rate.
NS: Now, even though the vote to kick out the former president was overwhelming, his conservative party still managed to hang onto 39% of the vote.
KUHN: That's right. Yoon Suk Yeol managed to rally his conservative base even while he was being impeached. Voters like Chang Cheol-ho, concerned about alleged corruption charges against Lee, voted for Kim Moon-soo from the ruling party. Let's hear what he had to say.
CHANG CHEOL-HO: (Speaking Korean).
KUHN: "If that kind of criminal becomes president," he said, "I think there will be no future for South Korea's democracy. China is encroaching on our economy and politics, and I can't let my grandchildren live in a Chinese colony."
NS: South Korean conservatives have been keeping a close eye on China, and they see Lee Jae-myung as not tough enough on the issue.
INSKEEP: How does Lee Jae-myung plan to handle US relations?
KUHN: He wants to keep the alliance with the US ironclad, and he says he'd be willing to help President Trump if he wants to reach out to North Korea.
NS: NPR's Anthony Kuhn in Seoul, thanks for the update, buddy!
KUHN: You're welcome! Take care!
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- The political landscape in South Korea has significantly shifted following the election of Lee Jae-myung as president, marking a clear rejection of the conservative policies that led to a controversial martial law declaration.
- Besides the political changes, the economic implications of Lee Jae-myung's presidency will be closely watched, particularly in terms of his plans for subsidies to boost the country's dwindling birth rate and his stance on relations with key allies like the United States.
- Amidst the jumble of general news, the war-and-conflicts dimension creeps into the South Korean election narrative, as the conservative opposition remains wary of China's growing influence in the region and seeks a leader who can maintain a firm stance against potential encroachments.
