The helms of affairs of Seoul will enter a new phase of democratic dispensation as power shifts from the Liberals to the newly elected Conservative Party, setting it to take the centre stage by May.
Yoon Suk-yeol, presidential flag bearer of the People Power Party emerged victorious after edging past his opponent Lee Jae-Myung from the ruling Democratic Party at Wednesday’s Presidential election.
From the very beginning, the race for the South Korean top spot was set on a fierce contest between the two candidates. Yoon Suk-yeol emerged by a narrow victory as he polled 48.59 percent of the votes against 47.80 percent garnered by his closet rival.
Born in 1960, Yoon Suk-yeol track records in the state affairs of Seoul prior to his revelation in politics was set largely from the legal circles.
Serving as Prosecutor General within a 3-year period under the incumbent administration of Moon Jae-in, Yoon took center stage in the conviction of former president Park Geun-hye in 2018 – a bold step that shot his personality into the limelight.
The sexagenarian got into the politics of Seoul proper in June 2021 when he officially declared his intent to run for the presidency as an independent candidate however, towards the build-up to the election Yoon joined the People Power Party, a conservative opposition.
Clinching the presidential seat was quite a messy ride for Yoon. The eastern Asian country recorded a bitterly contested campaign in recent times between Yoon and his rival, Lee Jae-myung. Regardless of the ups and down, Yoon rocked the boat to victory.
Matters of great domestic and international concerns formed the basis for his presidential pursuit.
On the domestic front, a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, among other local issues ranging from high youth unemployment to gender conflict will come knocking at the political capacity of the Yoon Suk-yeol led South-Korean government.
Straight into the foreign scene, Seoul as a state actor in global politics under Yoon is looking more likely pro-Washington, anti-Beijing, and a tit-for-tat approach against Pyongyang. Relations between Seoul and Pyongyang by all indices are expected to hit a new low under the Yoon presidency.
Come May 10, Blue House, the official residence of the presidency will be taken over by the newly elected democratic government of Yoon Suk-yeol.
As power transition is around the corner, all things being equal, the 10th largest economy in the world for a 5-year period would be manned by Yoon Suk-yeol as the 13th state leader of the Republic of Korea.
Read more ‘Analysis and Explainer‘ on The Informant247, like ‘Who is Gabriel Boric Font?’ – the youngest-ever president of the South-American country.