South Korea Elects Liberal Leadership Amid Post-Coup Recovery

•  The South Korean people’s choice of a liberal candidate suggests that the conservatives have failed to fulfil the aspirations of the country. 
• Conservatives favoured a military-offensive approach toward North Korea, while liberals preferred diplomatic engagement between the two Koreas.
• The conservatives failed to control inflation, and under President Yoon, North Korea’s threat intensified, marked by a series of missile launches, some landing in South Korean and Japanese waters.

Months of political instability have come to an official end with South Korea organising its presidential elections, where the country saw the return of former President and liberal party head Lee Jae-myung, who defeated the conservative candidate Kim Moon. The election comes six months after the failed coup attempt by then-President Yoon Suk-yeol in December, where he tried to execute a presidential coup under the pretext that the opposition party in South Korea was in collaboration with North Korea and was trying to create instability across the country.

However, the coup was not supported by the South Korean public. As a result, many people came out in the streets and protested against President Yoon Suk-yeol’s actions, and eventually, he was impeached in December of last year.

It is important to understand that these elections came at a critical time when South Korea was suffering from deep political instability. The South Korean people’s choice of a liberal candidate suggests that the conservatives have failed to fulfil the aspirations of the country. The conservatives came to power in South Korea back in 2022, when President Yoon promised to tackle inflation, reduce the cost of living, and adopt an offensive posture against North Korean belligerence.

It is also important to note that regarding North Korea, there has been a difference in approach between the liberals and the conservatives. The conservatives advocated a military-offensive stance towards North Korea, whereas the liberals preferred political diplomacy between the two Koreas.

However, the conservatives failed not only in controlling inflation and the cost of living but also in dealing with the North Korean issue. After President Yoon came to power, the North Korean threat only intensified, with North Korea conducting a series of missile launches, some of which landed in the maritime waters of South Korea and Japan. Thus, the North Korea-related promises also proved void.

Moreover, there were personal controversies surrounding President Yoon. In 2024, his wife was seen carrying a luxurious bag, which was reportedly gifted by an influential businessman in South Korea. This raised allegations that the President was colluding with the business community and seeking personal favours in exchange for policies that would benefit them. This controversy also gave the liberals a fair advantage in the elections.

The election also comes at a time of political change in the United States of America. Since the inception of the tariff regime by President Trump, South Korea has faced economic pressure, having also come under tariff measures. Due to a lack of effective leadership, it was difficult to navigate these challenges. With the increasing complexities in the Indo-Pacific region, South Korea was becoming isolated due to political instability. However, with the return of President Lee Jae-myung, South Korea is expected to reduce its political isolation and attempt to get back on track to deter the growing challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.

Aayush Pal

Aayush Pal is a freelance writer on contemporary geopolitical developments. The views expressed in his work are entirely his own.