Strategic risk for the U.S: the Trump Administration defends its interests in the South Korean presidential campaign to preserve the JAROKUS coalition

On May 11, 2025, South Korea’s two main political forces — the left-leaning Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the right-centrist People’s Power Party (PPP) — finalized their candidates for the snap presidential election scheduled for June 3.

Following intraparty agreements, the candidates are Lee Jae-myung (DPK) and former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo (PPP).

It was initially assumed that Lee Jae-myung, who leans pro-autocratic, would face Han Duck-soo, a moderate technocrat and former South Korean prime minister, who was expected to comprehensively continue the foreign policy course of Yoon Suk Yeol.