Uneasiness around Liberal President

South Korean people elected Moon Jae-in, the leader of Democratic Party of Korea, for next President on Tuesday. It is the first time in these nine years for South Korea to have liberal President. Voters chose a candidate most distant from previous President, Park Geun-hye, who left confusion in South Korean politics with corruption. As Moon promised reviewing of current relationship with Japan, diplomacy between Japan and South Korea is likely to enter bitter period of time.

The result of short campaigns for Presidency was victorious for Moon. Moon occupied over 40% of all votes, leaving two other candidates behind. Hong Joon-pyo, the candidate of conservative Liberal Korea Party holding notorious Park, suffered from collateral damage of scandal of current administration with share of 24% of all votes. A centrist, Ahn Cheol-soo, sank in 21% with strong campaign for catching up that resulted in an insufficiency.

Declaring his victory, Moon appealed reintegration of South Korean people. “I will be the President for all the people from tomorrow,” told Moon in the election night. It is likely that South Korea will resume political stability under the leadership of new President. However, Democratic Party of Korea does not have majority in the Congress. Moon needs to find reliable partner for political coalition.

Moon is known as upholding appeasement policy toward North Korea. That policy clearly different from Park administration may cause contradiction to international efforts to put pressure on North Korea for letting Kim Jong-un regime abandon nuclear and missile development. While United States or Japan does not see critical damage in trilateral relationship with South Korea, it will be less easy for them to have integrated measures on uncontrollably intimidating North Korea.

It is a headache for Japan that Moon has been arguing renegotiation over the bilateral agreement of finalizing comfort woman issue with Japan. Park’s handling of this issue was highly unpopular for South Korean people. Moon stressed his anti-Japan stance by visiting disputed Takeshima Island a few years ago. It is unlikely that Moon will immediately implement the agreement of removing the statue of comfort woman in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul. Japanese government does not show any intention to accept the offer of renegotiation.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delivered a short comment hoping future-looking relationship with Moon. But, Abe does not show as positive approach to Moon as he visited New York to meet President-elect Donald Trump. North Korea, or supposedly China, welcomes the change of course in South Korea.