South Korea elects liberal Lee Jae-myung after months of political turmoil

Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea’s main liberal party, has won the country’s presidential election, following months of political turmoil after the last president was impeached.

Election officials have yet to release the final vote tally, but conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo, of the People Power Party, conceded the race in the early hours of Wednesday local time. Exit polls from South Korean media had shown Lee would win.

In a short statement before Kim’s concession, Lee thanked voters and expressed his respect for “the people’s great decision.” Later, in a victory speech in the early hours of Wednesday, Lee vowed to restore democracy after a tumultuous few months. Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed from office in April after lawmakers impeached him for trying to declare martial law last December.

“I will fulfill my mission of creating a world where democracy is restored and the people are respected as sovereign in a democratic republic while living together in cooperation with each other,” Lee said on a stage where he was joined by his wife, Kim Hye-kyung.

“The moment I am confirmed as the president-elect, I will put all of my strength into reviving the economy and recovering people’s livelihoods,” he added.

On foreign policy, Lee said that he will seek dialogue and a path for co-prosperity with neighboring North Korea — a notable departure from the outgoing conservative administration.

But he has also vowed to strengthen South Korea’s alliance with the United States and continue the trilateral security cooperation with Japan launched under the previous administration.