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South Korea election: Yoon Suk-yeol wins mandate to tackle inequality, US-China relations and Kim Jong-un’s nuclear ambitions

  • Broadcaster KBS declared victory for Yoon who, with 95 per cent of the ballots counted, had garnered 48.6 per cent of the votes compared to Lee’s 47.8 per cent
  • The conservative People Power Party politician is expected to take a harder line on North Korea and ‘reset’ ties with China

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South Korea’s president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol celebrates his victory in Seoul on Wednesday. Photo: Bloomberg

Former prosecutor Yoon Suk-yeol has emerged the winner of South Korea’s bitterly contested election on Thursday, after a neck and neck race against ex-mayor and lawyer Lee Jae-myung.

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After close to all of the ballots had been counted as of 5.30am local time on Thursday, Yoon, the conservative opposition candidate, edged out Lee with 48.6 per cent of the vote to 47.8 per cent. A formal announcement is expected later.

Lee of the ruling Democratic Party conceded defeat soon after.

“I congratulate the president-elect Yoon on his election,” he said. “I hope the president-elect will get over division and conflicts and open a new era of national unity and harmony.”

People Power Party lawmakers and officials celebrate at the party’s situation room at the National Assembly in Seoul early on Thursday as Yoon Suk-yeol overtook ruling Democratic Party rival Lee Jae-myung for the first time in the neck and neck race. Photo: EPA-EFE/Yonhap
People Power Party lawmakers and officials celebrate at the party’s situation room at the National Assembly in Seoul early on Thursday as Yoon Suk-yeol overtook ruling Democratic Party rival Lee Jae-myung for the first time in the neck and neck race. Photo: EPA-EFE/Yonhap

“This is a great victory by the people,” Yoon said on Thursday, adding he would work towards national unity and cooperate with the National Assembly, which is dominated by liberals.

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