As South Korea prepares to vote for its next president, the victor will face immediate challenges on the international front. Analysts emphasize the pressures from the US, especially concerning trade and military alliances, amid ongoing tensions with North Korea. Moreover, South Korea must balance its trade relations with China, while also navigating its ties with Japan, which may become strained based on the election outcome. Recent polls indicate Lee Jae-Myung of the Democratic Party leads, but the political landscape remains fluid with significant implications for foreign policy.
"The winner is going to face a lot of big issues very quickly," said Choo Jae-woo, a professor of foreign policy at Kyung Hee University in Seoul.
"For Korea, the most serious worry is the tariffs on exports to the US and the changing role of the military alliance, including the US forces in Korea."
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