This article covers the election in South Korea and the potential outcome of either main candidate. The Korean election matters for other eastern Asian countries because it represents a significant geopolitical location as well as ties to the main regional and global powers. The two candidates are Yoon Suk Yeol a conservative and Lee Jae-Myung a liberal. Yeol’s foreign policies are far more western and focus on improving relations between themselves and Japan as well as the US. This would in turn sour relations with North Korea and China. Adversely, Myung offers a more neutral and less decisive approach to foreign policy debates. Myung has stated that he would need time to decide the best course of action for South Korea however was leaning towards favoring China and repairing relations with North Korea in an effort to foster more projects between the Koreas. As brought up in the article, South Korea is in a difficult position where it is disadvantageous to upset China with any foreign policy moves; however, they must balance Chinese influence in their decisions as well as consider allies like the US. Yoel who won the election has already pledged to strengthen the preexisting allegiance with the US at the expense of upsetting China. Yoels reasoning was highlighted in a recent political debate between himself and Myung, during the debate Yoel brought up Ukraine as a reason as to why it would be important to be backed by larger international actors. This was in contrast to Mygungs response that criticized Ukraine for pining for a NATO seat stating that it provoked Russia unnecessarily. With Yoel winning the election and already stating publicly that US president Biden would be the first international leader he would meet with, the future of South Korea would seem to rely heavily on US influence and repairing relations with Japan.
