Conservative political novice Yoon Suk-yeol elected South Korea's president
India Today
Yoon Suk-yeol from the main opposition People Power Party edged out the ruling Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung with 48.6 per cent of the vote to be elected South Korea's new president.
Conservative South Korean opposition candidate Yoon Suk-yeol was elected president on Thursday in one of the most closely fought races in recent history which will shape Asia's fourth-largest economy for the next five years.
Yoon, 60, from the main opposition People Power Party, edged out the ruling Democratic Party's Lee Jae-myung with 48.6 per cent of the vote to 47.8 per cent, with around 99.8 per cent of the ballots counted as of 5:30 a.m. on Thursday (2030 GMT Wednesday). A formal announcement is expected to be made later on Thursday morning.
Yoon said he would honour the constitution and parliament and work with opposition parties to heal polarised politics and foster unity, calling the election a "victory of the great people".
"Our competition is over for now," he said in an acceptance speech, thanking and consoling Lee and other rivals. "We have to join hands and unite into one for the people and the country."
At a separate ceremony with supporters, Yoon said he would put top priority on "national unity," adding all people should be treated equally regardless of their regional, political and socioeconomic differences.
"I would pay attention to people's livelihoods, provide warm welfare services to the needy, and make utmost efforts so that our country serves as a proud, responsible member of the international community and the free world," he said.
Lee had conceded defeat and congratulated his opponent.
