Lee Jae-myung was elected today (3rd) as South Korea's 21st president. According to Assistant Professor Hong Yao-nan from Tamkang University, his party's stance is 'pro-U.S. and non-anti-China', but the attitude towards Taiwan is expected to remain largely unchanged.

Data released by the South Korean Election Commission shows that the voter turnout for this election reached 79.4%, the highest since the 15th presidential election in 1997. Professor Hong noted that several factors contributed to Lee's victory, including the impeachment of former President Yoon Seok-youl, leading to the by-election, internal divisions within the People Power Party, and Lee's prior preparations for his campaign.

He pointed out that in the face-off between the conservative People Power Party and the progressive Democratic Party, the basic stance 'pro-U.S.' is common to all parties, due to the close military alliance between South Korea and the United States. He predicts that Lee will adopt a slightly friendlier approach toward China but will not alter his stance on Taiwan. Lee has previously stated he would 'thank both China and Taiwan' and would not interfere in cross-strait relations, leading to some domestic concerns about his pro-China inclinations. However, Professor Hong believes Taiwan need not worry too much, as the trade dependency between South Korea and Taiwan will keep their relationship stable.