S. KOREA: NEW MOON RISING IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

ELIZABETH SOELISTIO WRITES – In a definitive swing of the political pendulum, South Korea has elected Moon Jae-in as president, after his predecessor was impeached. The new, liberal occupant of the presidential Blue House is a lawyer, former student activist, former soldier and the son of North Korean immigrants. Moon has promised to root out corruption in S. Korea’s industrial conglomerates (the head of Samsung is currently on trial for corruption) and to address rising issues of inequality and youth unemployment. However, his views on reopening talks with the north have earned him criticism from some of S. Korea’s older generation. The north’s endorsement of Moon’s candidacy no doubt added to his opponents’ concerns.  Look for more coverage on the election and its aftermath here in the days ahead.

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