How will South Korea’s new president balance China against America?

South Korean reformist Lee Jae-myung secured a landslide victory in a snap election that served as a direct referendum against President Yoon Suk-yo's failed martial law declaration, effectively ending a period of political instability marked by Yoon's impeachment. Transitioning from a progressive populist to a pragmatic moderate, Lee now faces the dual challenge of reviving a battered economy and navigating a complex foreign policy landscape characterized by looming U.S. tariffs and shifting security alliances. Despite inheriting a nation grappling with the world's lowest fertility rate and deep domestic division, his administration aims to stabilize relations with the United States while maintaining balanced ties with China to address these overlapping crises.