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First Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
South Korea's Presidential election: What's at stake
Following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol in April, after his unconstitutional declaration of martial law, the election has become a referendum on the future of South Korea's democracy read more South Korea's presidential candidates Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party shakes hands with Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party prepare for the second televised debate for the upcoming presidential election in Seoul, South Korea. Reuters As South Koreans prepare to vote in a snap presidential election on June 3, the stakes extend far beyond choosing the country's next leader. Following the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol in April, after his unconstitutional declaration of martial law, the election has become a referendum on the future of South Korea's democracy. Political stability Constitutional reform is at the heart of South Korea's political debate. Both leading presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party and Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, support replacing the current single five-year term with two four-year terms to strengthen executive accountability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The urgency follows President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment after he declared martial law, citing 'anti-state forces' in the opposition-controlled parliament. Widely seen as executive overreach, the move has sparked calls for stronger checks on presidential power. Lee Jae-myung has proposed further reforms, including a requirement for parliamentary approval within 24 hours of any martial law declaration, to ensure democratic oversight. Economic growth and stability South Korea's economy is grappling with rapid automation, the rise of artificial intelligence, and a widening gap between high-skilled and low-skilled jobs. These trends have destabilized the middle class, particularly among the youth, leading to mounting concerns over job security and economic opportunity. With high youth unemployment and growing discontent among job seekers, especially those avoiding low-paid positions in small and medium-sized enterprises, the economy is a top concern for voters. Both major candidates have pledged to revitalize the economy but differ on strategies—Lee favours innovation and inclusive growth, while Kim emphasizes business-led expansion. Relations with North Korea The next president will be tasked with recalibrating the nation's long-standing policy on North Korea. Lee advocates for a more moderate approach, including diplomatic engagement and dialogue with Pyongyang. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He also supports improving ties with China and Russia, while maintaining a stable alliance with the United States. By contrast, conservative voices call for a firmer stance toward the North, focusing on deterrence and military readiness. How the next president approaches inter-Korean relations could shape peace and stability on the peninsula. Regional and geopolitical tensions South Korea finds itself navigating increasingly complex geopolitical dynamics amid rising tensions between the US and China. Strategic decisions on trade, security, and diplomacy, particularly regarding military cooperation and semiconductor exports, are under global scrutiny. The election will likely determine whether South Korea leans more heavily into its alliance with Washington or seeks a more balanced diplomatic approach in the region. Yoon's relationship between Japan and South Korea was reasonably peaceful and forward-looking, in contrast to his Democratic Party predecessor, Moon Jae-in. As the current campaigns come to an end, Lee, also from the Democratic Party, has a high chance of becoming the next president. Tokyo is concerned that under Lee, relations may worsen once further, particularly if the new government emphasises the horrific history of Japan's colonial control and wartime crimes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Social divisions Cultural shifts and the growing visibility of gender equality movements have led to stark generational and ideological divides. Young men, frustrated by job competition and mandatory military service, have shown increasing support for conservative candidates and anti-feminist rhetoric. Meanwhile, young women are turning toward progressive politics, supporting gender reform and social justice. These divergent views have formed opposing political coalitions, making gender politics a defining factor in the election. The divide has already reshaped the political landscape, including the historic election of a record number of female lawmakers in 2024. Demographic challenges South Korea's aging population and record-low fertility rate, the lowest in the OECD, have exposed major shortcomings in the country's welfare and care systems. Women, who often carry the burden of unpaid elder and child care, are demanding policy solutions that support work-life balance and gender equity. Candidates are under pressure to address these systemic issues, which are key to long-term social and economic sustainability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The real question in this election is not just who wins, but what kind of democracy South Korea will choose for its future. Will the country continue to concentrate power in the presidency, or will new, inclusive coalitions reshape the democratic framework? As South Korea stands at a political crossroads, the June 3 election could define not only the next presidency, but the very fabric of its democracy.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
North Korea strengthens law to curb 'anti-socialist culture': Justice Ministry
North Korea has strengthened its law to control foreign cultural influences by increasing the severity of criminal punishments against the spread of "anti-socialist culture," going so far as to impose the death penalty, the Ministry of Justice said Friday. According to the ministry, which recently analyzed North Korea's revised Criminal Act, North Korea expanded the scope of the death penalty to special criminal laws regarding drug crimes, reactionary ideology and culture, including from South Korea, dubbed Hallyu, or the Korean Wave. Seoul explained that North Korea's recent revision stemmed from the view that it perceives the influx of South Korean culture, like popular use of the term 'oppa,' as a possible threat to the regime. Oppa is a term used by South Korean women when they address an older male family member, friend or romantic partner. The explanation was part of comprehensive commentaries on North Korea's Criminal Act revisions in December 2023, analyzing all 329 articles of the law. While increasing the number of criminal offenses eligible for the death penalty from 11 to 16, North Korea removed articles that previously included references to national reunification to reflect the changed nature of inter-Korean relations as 'two hostile states.' Additional provisions have been introduced to strengthen the protection of national symbols by creating a new offense for damaging the national flag or emblem, according to the Justice Ministry. It claimed that the revised criminal law included articles reflecting sanctions imposed by the international community as well. 'We hope that the analysis will serve as a foundation for future research, which is aimed to effectively address the integration of South and North Korea's legal systems. The ministry will continue to make efforts to prepare for the unification of legal and institutional frameworks on the Korean Peninsula,' said the ministry. The ministry stated that it did not only make explanations to the legal elements outlined in each article of North Korean Criminal Act, but also created comparative legal studies with the criminal laws of South Korea, Russia, China and Vietnam.
Sinar Daily
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
What will Seoul's new leader mean for North Korea ties?
Under the hawkish Yoon Suk Yeol -- whose ouster over his disastrous declaration of martial law triggered the snap presidential poll -- Seoul took a hard line towards North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. 30 May 2025 12:22pm Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate for South Korea's new Reform Party (RP), speaks during an election campaign event in Seoul on May 28, 2025. (Photo by Pedro Pardo / AFP) SEOUL - On the campaign trail in South Korea ahead of the June 3 vote, leading candidates in the presidential race have barely mentioned the nuclear-armed North -- but a new leader in Seoul could shake-up years of Pyongyang policy. Under the hawkish Yoon Suk Yeol -- whose ouster over his disastrous declaration of martial law triggered the snap presidential poll -- Seoul took a hard line towards North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Supporters of South Korean presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party gather during an election campaign event for the forthcoming June 3 presidential election in Seoul on May 28, 2025. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) AFP takes a look at what could happen next: What's the situation? Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, thanks in part to Yoon's short-lived presidency, who said on the campaign trail he'd teach "rude" Kim Jong Un a lesson. Yoon's former People Power Party has always traditionally taken a harder line on the North than the country's left-wing Democratic Party, and during his time in office, Yoon threatened preemptive strikes and bolstered joint drills with ally the US. The North has also toughened its stance: blowing up inter-Korean roads and railways, declaring the South an "enemy state" and scrapping military deals aimed at avoiding accidental escalations. If front-runner, the DP's Lee Jae-myung, wins the election on Tuesday, things could change: he has already vowed to restart efforts to engage Kim. Lee's North Korea policy will represent a "complete turnaround" from Yoon's, Lim Eul-chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, told AFP. His approach follows that of his party, which traditionally champions dialogue with Pyongyang, he said. There could be "potential for improvement in ties with Pyongyang" if Lee wins, he added. Will ties improve? The last polls before the pre-election blackout period showed Lee in the lead. But it is still possible that the PPP's candidate Kim Moon-soo could sneak into the lead -- especially if another right-wing candidate, currently in third place, were to endorse him. In the case, it is likely Kim would maintain Yoon's hardline policy toward Pyongyang. He has called for more US nuclear assets to be deployed to the peninsula. Kim's policy platform is notably light on details on what he plans to do regarding Pyongyang -- but it's basically just "an extension of Yoon's policy in substance," professor Lim said. "In a way, Kim's rhetoric suggests he may take an even more hawkish stance on the North than Yoon, raising the risk of heightened military tensions." What about Trump? Trump has talked up his "great relationship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and hinted that he might seek to rekindle his relationship with the third-generation ruler in Pyongyang. A person steps out of a booth at a polling station during early voting for the presidential election in Seoul on May 29, 2025. (Photo by Pedro PARDO / AFP) During Trump's first term, the two met multiple times for talks on possible denuclearisation, which ultimately collapsed without a deal. "Trump could shift his focus to North Korea once the situation in Ukraine is resolved through a truce with Russia," said Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification. "It is possible that he will be eager to engage with the North in pursuit of diplomatic achievements," he said. But after the collapse of talks, which Kim found "humiliating, he may not be as receptive to a potential summit proposal from Trump as he once was." And Ukraine? After Russia invaded Ukraine, Pyongyang began supplying Moscow with weapons and soldiers to help it fight Kyiv. Ex-president Yoon slammed the growing ties between the North and Russia -- and even hinting that Seoul, a major arms exporter, could consider providing weapons direct to Ukraine, currently barred by longstanding domestic policy. At the time, Lee criticised Yoon for this, warning that such a move would be "a death sentence" for South Korean companies in Russia. He has also blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the war, saying he had "provoked Russia with a promise to join NATO." He later apologised for the remark. He now says he will pursue "pragmatic diplomacy" in terms of Seoul's ties with Russia. His foreign policy advisor said this could include "efforts to seek dialogue and improve ties with Russia," Choi Gi-il told AFP. Kim Moon-soo has not commented on the conflict. What will North Korea do? Pyongyang has not commented on the South's election and is not expected to do so on its outcome, said Lim of Kyungnam University. "But if Lee wins, the North will closely monitor how he implements his North Korea policy -- particularly any changes to joint military drills with the US," he said. If Kim Moon-soo wins, having pledged to maintain a hardline stance and increase the deployment of US nuclear assets around the peninsula, Pyongyang could attempt to undermine his administration, Lim added. "North Korea could resort to a highly aggressive military provocation, escalating tensions to a new level." - AFP More Like This
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Backed by Jim Rogers, Lee Jae-myung stresses peace on Korean Peninsula for economic rebound
Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung on Friday highlighted the need for South Korea to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula to bring about an economic recovery. In a Facebook post, Lee welcomed the endorsement of US investment guru Jim Rogers, chairman of Rogers Holdings, calling attention to Rogers' belief in the country's economic potential on the foundation of rapprochement between the two Koreas. 'If we have fair rules, transparent governance, a stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, and solid industrial and economic policies, our stock market has far more room to grow,' Lee wrote. He echoed Rogers' view that 'peace is not just a political issue but an economic strategy,' and that Korea could become the trade, finance and innovation hub of Northeast Asia. Rogers has long underscored the economic potential of the Korean Peninsula, particularly in the context of inter-Korean cooperation and regional stability. His support was publicly delivered on Thursday through a statement read at the National Assembly by representatives of businesses at the Kaesong Industrial Complex, a joint industrial complex once operated by the two Koreas that was shut down in 2016. In the statement, Rogers touted Lee as the candidate who is capable of "ending the era of confrontation and opening a new chapter of peace, growth, and global leadership." Rogers, who took part in a virtual dialogue on economics with Lee in January 2022, also argued that a peaceful Korea would not only boost investor confidence but also unlock millions of new jobs and potentially send the Kospi to historic highs. 'Let us invest in peace. Let us invest in the future. Let us invest in Korea. The choice is Lee Jae-myung,' he said.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
China's steel towers in PMZ raise 'South China Sea 2.0' question: ex-top US envoy
China's installation of steel structures in the overlapping sea zone with South Korea raises a question about whether it is seeking to turn the area into another South China Sea, a former US ambassador to Seoul said Thursday. Harry Harris, a former commander of the US Pacific Command, made the remark, denouncing Beijing for its recent actions in the Provisional Maritime Zone, an area in the Yellow Sea where the exclusive economic zones of South Korea and China overlap. China has built three steel towers in the PMZ over the past several years, claiming that they are fish farms and a management facility, sparking concerns in South Korea over its unilateral actions despite a bilateral agreement on the PMZ signed by the two countries to ensure maritime stability. "China turns its attention to the West Sea to encroach into the PMZ, disregarding the 2001 agreement between Beijing and Seoul," Harris said during a session of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, referring to the Yellow Sea as the West Sea. "Washington-based website 1945 rightly asks, 'If we are seeing South China Sea 2.0,'" he said, quoting an article from the publication. Harris' remarks are seen as suggesting that China's true intention behind the tower installations is to lay the groundwork for territorial claims to the waters -- similar to what it has done by building artificial islands in the South China Sea, where it has ongoing disputes with neighboring countries. Given this situation, Harris said diplomacy and maritime cooperation have become more vital than ever. On North Korea, Harris said the recent developments in inter-Korean ties, with the North's leader Kim Jong-un having severed all ties with the South and labeling it an enemy state, speaks to the view that the regime will not give up its nuclear weapons. "Why am I not surprised? None of this sounds to me like he's trying to get rid of his nuclear ambitions anytime soon. In fact, he's telling us precisely the opposite by his declarations and actions," Harris said. While he still hopes for diplomacy to work out with the North, Harris said hope alone cannot be an effective course of action when dealing with Pyongyang. "The quest for dialogue with the North must never be made at the expense of the ability to respond to threats. Dialogue with military readiness must go hand in hand," he said. (Yonhap)
