Liberal candidate Moon Jae-in won South Korea’s presidential election on Tuesday. Moon’s decisive win, with approximately 40 percent of the vote and a 14 percent lead over the next closest candidate, signifies the South Korean electorate’s desire for change after 10 years of conservative rule and a political corruption controversy that had former President Park Geun-hye removed from office.
Moon ran on a campaign emphasizing reform that would restore the South Korean people’s faith in their government, pursue economic policies to revitalize a slowing economy and reduce the power of conglomerates, and take a more conciliatory approach to North Korea.
Before entering politics, Moon served in the army’s special forces and then became a human rights lawyer. He was chief of staff in the administration of Roh Mu-hyun, South Korea’s last liberal president but did not run for political office until 2012. Soon after winning a seat in the National Assembly, Moon ran for president in the 2012 election and came in second to Park.
Many observers believe Moon’s conciliatory approach to both North Korea and China may strain South Korea’s alliance with the United States. Moon advocates open dialogue with Pyongyang and reopening a joint economic zone known as the Kaesong Industrial Complex to improve relations.
He has called for a review of the United States’ deployment of the controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system. Beijing opposes the system, which is meant to defend South Korea against North Korean missiles, on the grounds that its sensors can be used for surveillance of China. Relations between China and South Korea have been strained since the THAAD deployment, and many believe Moon will try to improve relations with South Korea’s second most lucrative trade partner.
In the past, the U.S.-South Korean alliance has seen the most strain under a conservative U.S. president and a liberal South Korean president. With a similar dynamic now in place, it remains to be seen if this pattern will continue between the Trump and Moon administrations.
For more analysis on what Moon Jae-in’s election win means for South Korean and U.S. interests, look for The Cipher Brief’s Friday feature on the South Korean election.
Will Edwards is an Asia-Pacific and defense analyst at The Cipher Brief. Follow him on Twitter @_wedwards.
