South Korea: Newly elected president sworn in May 10

Event

South Korea’s newly-elected President Moon Jae-in was sworn in to office on Wednesday, May 10, hours after being confirmed as the winner of the May 9 presidential elections. Moon replaces former President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached over corruption allegations. Moon took the oath of office in a ceremony held at the National Assembly in the capital Seoul at noon (local time).

Context

Moon, of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea, won with 41.08 percent of the vote. Hong Joon Pyo of the conservative Liberty Korea Party garnered 24.03 percent and Ahn Cheol Soo of the center-left People's Party received 21.41 percent.

South Korean politics were thrown into disarray late last year amid corruption allegations against President Park. The scandal eventually forced her from office in March after months of massive peaceful protests. Moon’s victory returns the country’s liberals to power after nearly a decade of conservative rule. He has stated that he is in favor of dialogue with North Korea and observers believe that his more conciliatory approach to relations on the Korean Peninsula may lead to a rift with the United States over the North’s nuclear weapons program.

Advice

Individuals present in South Korea are advised to refrain from discussing politics with local residents due to the current sensitivity of the matter (pro- and anti-Park sentiment).