"If South Korea Falters, So Will Japan..." Japanese Media Show 'Extraordinary Interest' in Korean Presidential Election

Asahi and Nikkei Both Report on South Korean Presidential Election
"Candidates Must Heal Political, Regional, Generational, and Gender Divides"
"Expecting Debates That Will Lay the Foundation for the Next Generation Beyond Division"

Japanese media have reported that they expect discussions aimed at overcoming the deepening social divisions in South Korea through this presidential election.

On May 14, leading Japanese daily newspapers Asahi Shimbun and Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) both published editorials on the South Korean presidential election, stating, "We hope that the candidates will engage in debates to resolve political, regional, generational, and gender conflicts."

Officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission attaching voter encouragement promotional materials to the screen doors on the platform of Hyehwa Station, Line 4 of the Seoul Subway in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Asahi described this election as one that asks questions about the presidency and the method of democracy, following a state of emergency. The paper added, "We look forward to debates that will lay the foundation for the next generation, going beyond division."

It went on to say, "It is necessary for the president, who holds absolute power, to avoid becoming self-righteous, for the ruling and opposition parties to engage in repeated deliberations, to communicate with the public, and to gather wisdom from a long-term perspective." The paper observed that voters would be questioning whether this election could serve as a turning point toward such politics.

Nikkei also stated that policies on national unity to overcome division, closing the gap, and job creation would lead to support from centrist and independent voters, which would determine the outcome of the election. The paper called on South Korean politicians to "engage in future-oriented debates for the stability of national affairs and regional peace."

Both Asahi and Nikkei predicted that the presidential race would likely center around Lee Jaemyung of the Democratic Party and Kim Moonsu of the People Power Party. Asahi noted that a key issue would be how the two main candidates confront the series of events from former President Yoon Sukyeol's state of emergency to impeachment and removal from office. The paper also expressed hope that, given the already intense criticism exchanged between the two camps, the election campaign would refrain from persistent mudslinging.

Nikkei analyzed, "The South Korean presidential election is essentially a contest between the two major parties, and opinion polls show a strong demand for a change of government by the opposition (the Democratic Party)." The paper added, "For Kim Moonsu to mount a counterattack, the conservative camp needs to reorganize and expand its support base."

Both newspapers especially pointed out that this presidential election would have a significant impact on Japan. Asahi emphasized, "Whoever becomes the leader in South Korea will have a major impact on Japan," highlighting the growing importance of South Korea-Japan cooperation in the face of shared challenges such as North Korea's nuclear and missile development, the inauguration of the Donald Trump administration in the United States, and China's expanding influence.

Nikkei noted that the Japanese public would be watching the South Korean presidential election with great interest, stating, "Since South Korea and Japan share common issues, any instability in South Korea could lead to confusion in regional security and economic cooperation."