Latest news with #SouthKoreaElection
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Doctored image targets Lee Jae-myung's women supporters
"Even if the candidate is a criminal, dictator or thug, these people say they'll support Lee Jae-myung even if they're ripped apart," reads part of a Korean-language Facebook post shared on June 2, 2025. "Regardless of the martial law (declaration) or impeachment, we cannot hand over the country's fate to these kinds of people." The post includes an image of someone holding up a sign that reads, "Even if our genitals are ripped apart, we will support Lee Jae-myung." The language used on the purported sign appears to reference a controversy involving Lee, stemming from a leaked 2012 phone call in which he used explicit language while speaking with his sister-in-law (archived link). Lee says that while he regrets the comments, he had been quoting profanities used by his brother (archived link). The image was shared a day before South Korea's snap presidential election on June 3, which Lee won with 49.4 percent of the popular vote. According to the election results, he secured over 60 percent of the vote among women in their 20s and 30s (archived link). The same image was also repeatedly shared elsewhere in similar Facebook posts from conservative users as well as in forums, with commenters mocking Lee's women supporters. "They've really gone insane, haven't they? They'd really sacrifice their genitals for Lee?" read a comment on one of the posts. Another said: "This goes to show just how extreme his supporters are, they should be put in an asylum." The image, however, was doctored. A reverse image search on Google led to the original photo, showing a sign without any explicit language, published in an online report by labour-related news outlet Workers' Solidarity from April 12, 2022 (archived link). The sign reads, "Desperately Jae-myung". The outlet's photo editor Lee Mi-jin told AFP the image was taken from a Facebook post shared by former ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Kwon In-sook a day ahead of the previous presidential election on March 8, 2022 (archived link). Lee ran in the 2022 election as the Democratic Party's candidate, losing by a razor-thin margin to Yoon Suk Yeol (archived link). Kwon's post, which included various photos of a rally attended by Lee, called on his supporters to unite ahead of the vote. A keyword search on YouTube found Kwon's photos matched footage of a rally held at Yeouido in central Seoul on the same day (archived link). Similar signs matching those in Kwon's photos can be seen at the YouTube video's 13:38, 22:06 and 22:48 marks; no signs containing the explicit language seen in the misleading social media posts can be spotted. AFP previously debunked multiple false claims surrounding Lee's presidential campaign.
CNA
05-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Singapore leaders congratulate South Korea's Lee Jae-myung on presidential election victory
SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam have written to new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung to congratulate him on his election, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday (Jun 5). Mr Lee was elected following a snap poll on Jun 3, six months to the day after he evaded military cordons to vote against a shock martial law decree imposed by his ousted predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol. He won 49.42 per cent of the nearly 35 million votes cast while conservative rival Kim Moon-soo took 41.15 per cent in the polls that brought the highest turnout for a presidential election since 1997. In a letter to Mr Lee on Wednesday, Mr Wong said that his victory reflected the confidence the South Korean people have in his leadership and vision. Singapore and South Korea enjoy a close and longstanding friendship, robust economic ties, and strong and multi-faceted cooperation, said Mr Wong. This includes collaboration in new and emerging areas like the digital economy, energy and sustainability, artificial intelligence, startups, research and development, as well as food security. "We are like-minded partners on many regional and international issues, including the importance of a peaceful Korean Peninsula and an open, rules-based international trading system." The two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year. "To mark this milestone, we are working towards upgrading our relations to a Strategic Partnership in October 2025. This includes timely reviews of the Korea-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and our bilateral Air Services Agreement," he said. Mr Wong said he looked forward to working with Mr Lee to further advance close cooperation between both nations. "I look forward to visiting the Republic of Korea later this year to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, and to make an official visit where we can jointly launch the Republic of Korea-Singapore Strategic Partnership. "I wish you good health and success as you assume office," Mr Wong said. In his letter to Mr Lee, Mr Tharman said the two countries "enjoy substantive and multifaceted relations", underpinned by robust economic links and strong people-to-people ties. "We are like-minded partners who cooperate well at multilateral fora and share a similar outlook on key regional and international issues, in particular the need to support free trade, multilateralism, and a rules-based international order," he said. Mr Tharman also said that he is confident that the close ties between Singapore and South Korea will continue to strengthen with Mr Lee's support and leadership. "I wish you every success as you assume your new role and take the country forward. "I look forward to welcoming you to Singapore soon. Please accept my best wishes for your good health and success," he added.
Reuters
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
North Korean state media report on South Korea's presidential election
SEOUL, June 5 (Reuters) - North Korean state media on Thursday reported for the first time on the outcome of South Korea's presidential election held earlier this week. Lee Jae-myung, the candidate of the Democratic Party, was elected as South Korea's 21st president in the election held on June 3, two months after a president was impeached over the December 3 emergency martial law, the short KCNA report said. The report did not comment any further. North Korean media have remained quiet on South Korean politics during this election cycle. In December, KCNA reported on growing public anger in South Korea against then President Yoon Suk Yeol following his short-lived imposition of martial law.
News24
04-06-2025
- Business
- News24
US labels South Korea election fair, but Trump allies target new president: ‘This is terrible'
Pedro Pardo/AFP The US labelled South Korea's election as fair. Liberal party candidate Lee Jae-myung won the presidency. US President Donald Trump's right-wing allies have taken aim at Lee. The White House said on Tuesday that South Korea's election, which saw liberal party candidate Lee Jae-myung win the presidency, was fair, but it expressed concern about Chinese interference. 'The US-ROK Alliance remains ironclad. While South Korea had a free and fair election, the United States remains concerned and opposed to Chinese interference and influence in democracies around the world,' a White House official said in an emailed response to a Reuters request for comment made at an earlier White House briefing. 'ROK' refers to the Republic of Korea. The official did not elaborate on the reference to alleged Chinese interference or connect it directly to the South Korean election. However, US President Donald Trump's right-wing allies have taken aim at Lee, who has spoken of the need to balance Seoul's relations with China and the US. Laura Loomer, a far-right activist who has jockeyed her way up from online agitator to self-appointed Trump adviser, posted 'RIP South Korea' on X on Tuesday after Lee's victory became clear. 'The communists have taken over Korea and won the Presidential election today,' she wrote. This is terrible. Laura Loomer Loomer has shown herself to be highly influential: Several high-ranking White House officials were fired this year after she presented Trump with a list of national security staffers she perceived to be disloyal. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement congratulating Lee, and like the White House, spoke about the two countries' 'ironclad' alliance. He made no mention of concerns about China. 'The United States and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defence Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties,' Rubio said. 'We are also modernising the Alliance to meet the demands of today's strategic environment and address new economic challenges.' Anthony Wallace/AFP Rubio also said the US would continue to deepen trilateral cooperation with South Korea and Japan, 'to bolster regional security, enhance economic resilience, and defend our shared democratic principles'. As South Korea's ousted former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, fought for his political life earlier this year, he raised unsubstantiated claims about possible fraud in South Korea's elections as one reason for his announcement of a martial law decree that had prompted his ouster. His backers adopted 'Stop the Steal' slogans and expressed hopes that Trump would intervene to help, but that never came. Yonhap/AFP 'Most of the 'election fraud' allegations I've seen reek of conspiracy theories and paranoia,' said Evans Revere, former US Deputy Ambassador for East Asian Affairs. 'It's unfortunate that a White House spokesperson would allude to these, especially since Lee's margin of victory was substantial and his conservative opponent quickly and unhesitatingly conceded his loss.' Last week, without providing evidence, Trump ally Mike Flynn, a retired general who briefly served as the president's national security adviser during his first term, referred in a post on X to 'signs of fraud' in the South Korea election, and said a fraudulent outcome would only benefit the Chinese Communist Party. Another Trump ally, Steve Bannon, explored a similar theme of Chinese election interference on his WarRoom channel last week. Lee's past comments about China, including his statement that a conflict over Taiwan would have nothing to do with South Korea, have provided fodder for those in the US government inclined to mistrust him, said Revere. His policy approach on China, Taiwan, Russia, Japan, and alliance- and trade-related concerns will be under close scrutiny in Washington and could lead to 'differences' between the two allies, he added. 'In that context, the White House spokesperson's comments could have been intended as a cautionary message to Korea's new president.'
Free Malaysia Today
04-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
White House calls South Korea election ‘fair'
US secretary of state Marco Rubio issued a statement congratulating Lee Jae-myung and, like the White House, spoke of the two countries' 'ironclad' alliance. (EPA Images pic) WASHINGTON : The White House said yesterday that South Korea's election, which saw liberal party candidate Lee Jae-myung win the presidency, was fair, but it expressed concern about Chinese interference. 'The US-ROK Alliance remains ironclad. While South Korea had a free and fair election, the US remains concerned and opposed to Chinese interference and influence in democracies around the world,' a White House official said in an emailed response to a Reuters request for comment made at an earlier White House briefing. 'ROK' refers to the Republic of Korea. The official did not elaborate on the reference to alleged Chinese interference or connect it directly to the South Korean election. However, US President Donald Trump's right-wing allies have taken aim at Lee, who has spoken of the need to balance Seoul's relations with China and the US. Laura Loomer, a far-right activist who has jockeyed her way up from online agitator to self-appointed Trump adviser, posted 'RIP South Korea' on X yesterday after Lee's victory became clear. 'The communists have taken over Korea and won the presidential election today,' she wrote. 'This is terrible,' she added. Loomer has shown herself to be highly influential: Several high-ranking White House officials were fired this year after she presented Trump with a list of national security staffers she perceived to be disloyal. US secretary of state Marco Rubio issued a statement congratulating Lee, and like the White House, spoke about the two countries' 'ironclad' alliance. He made no mention of concerns about China. 'The US and the Republic of Korea share an ironclad commitment to the Alliance grounded in our Mutual Defense Treaty, shared values, and deep economic ties. 'We are also modernising the Alliance to meet the demands of today's strategic environment and address new economic challenges,' Rubio said. Rubio also said the US would continue to deepen trilateral cooperation with South Korea and Japan, 'to bolster regional security, enhance economic resilience, and defend our shared democratic principles.' China policies under scrutiny As South Korea's ousted former president, Yoon Suk Yeol, fought for his political life earlier this year, he raised unsubstantiated claims about possible fraud in South Korea's elections as one reason for his announcement of a martial law decree that had prompted his ouster. His backers adopted 'Stop the Steal' slogans and expressed hopes that Trump would intervene to help, but that never came. 'Most of the 'election fraud' allegations I've seen reek of conspiracy theories and paranoia,' said Evans Revere, former US deputy ambassador for East Asian Affairs. 'It's unfortunate that a White House spokesman would allude to these, especially since Lee's margin of victory was substantial and his conservative opponent quickly and unhesitatingly conceded his loss,' Revere said. Last week, without providing evidence, Trump ally Mike Flynn, a retired general who briefly served as the president's national security adviser during his first term, referred in a post on X to 'signs of fraud' in the South Korea election, and said a fraudulent outcome would only benefit the Chinese Communist Party. Another Trump ally, Steve Bannon, explored a similar theme of Chinese election interference on his WarRoom channel last week. 'Lee's past comments about China, including his statement that a conflict over Taiwan would have nothing to do with South Korea, have provided fodder for those in the US government inclined to mistrust him,' said Revere. His policy approach on China, Taiwan, Russia, Japan, and alliance- and trade-related concerns will be under close scrutiny in Washington and could lead to 'differences' between the two allies. 'In that context, the White House spokesman's comments could have been intended as a cautionary message to Korea's new president,' he added.
