South Korea’s presidential election resulted in a shift to the left Tuesday, with conservative candidate Kim Moon-soo conceding to liberal Lee Jae-myung in the special election.

Kim, representing the People Power Party (PPP), announced his concession at a Wednesday morning press conference, stating he “humbly accepts the people’s choice.”

This decision follows a record early voting turnout, fueling speculation that Lee would win the presidency and reverse the political landscape after the impeachment of his predecessor, Yoon Suk-yeol, who was removed from office after declaring martial law in December.

Yoon’s impeachment, also a member of the PPP, triggered political turmoil after he was ousted two years prematurely.

The margin of Lee’s victory remains unclear, although reports had indicated for weeks that he was the likely winner.

However, Lee’s candidacy also raised concerns regarding his foreign policy, particularly concerning Seoul’s relationships with the U.S., China, and Russia.

Kim challenged Lee’s policies during a presidential debate last month after Lee stated he would adopt a “pragmatic” approach.

“There’s no need to worry. The South Korea-U.S. alliance is important and should continue to grow and strengthen,” Lee stated, while also suggesting Seoul should not be “unilaterally bound” to Washington, especially regarding matters related to North Korea.

“We should not neglect ties with China or Russia,” he added. “We need to manage them appropriately, and there’s no need to have an unnecessarily hostile approach like now.”

This stance marks a departure from the previous administration’s hardline approach toward China and Russia.

Lee has expressed his intention to reduce the “North Korea risk” by improving relations with North Korea.

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