Balance of Power

South Korea’s Lee Charts New Path in Diplomacy

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and his wife Kim Hye-gyeong in Seoul on June 4. — South Korean President Lee Jae-myung and his wife Kim Hye-gyeong in Seoul on June 4.
Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg

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By Jasmine Ng

June 4, 2025 at 6:03 AM EDT

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South Korea’s choice of Lee Jae-myung as president closes the door on months of turmoil sparked by his predecessor’s attempt to impose martial law — and opens another to a bold new direction in foreign policy.