Japanese media: ”Lee Jae-myung elected... Attention on practical diplomacy and changes in Japan-Korea relations”

On the 4th, major Japanese media outlets unanimously reported that "South Korea has once again had a progressive (liberal) government after three years" following the election of Lee Jae-myung, candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, as the 21st president of South Korea.
Japanese media have focused on President Lee's policy of pragmatic diplomacy and prioritizing national interests, and are predicting how Japan-South Korea relations will change.
The Asahi Shimbun reported that "the declaration of emergency martial law by former President Yoon Seo-gyul and the public backlash against it determined President Lee's victory.
"Within the Japanese government, there is a mixture of caution and optimism regarding President Lee's election," the report said, adding, "In the past, he fasted in protest against the ocean release of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
"Unlike in the past, the government has recently been emphasizing practical diplomacy and a future-oriented Japan-Korea relationship," the Mainichi Shimbun said. The Mainichi Shimbun also reported that "progressive forces have regained power for the first time in three years in the early presidential elections that followed the declaration of emergency law."
The article continued, "President Lee has made national unity, political reform, and economic recovery his top priorities." It also said, "President Lee has made tough statements against Japan in the past, but recently he has been making harsh remarks about Japan-Korea cooperation."
"It emphasizes the importance of power," he said, adding, "It is unclear whether the Japan-South Korea relations that improved under the previous Yoon administration will be maintained under the Lee Jae Myung administration."
The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, "During his election campaign, President Lee consistently emphasized the need to resolve national divisions, prevent the recurrence of martial law, and pragmatic diplomacy."
Kyodo News said, "President Lee has criticized the previous Yoon administration's policy toward Japan as 'humiliating diplomacy,' but in this election he emphasized Japan as an important cooperative partner."
"Although the will to exert force is apparent, the support base is taking a tough stance against Japan, and the future of relations between the two countries is unclear," NHK explained.
"He has actively communicated with the public by utilizing these tools," he said, adding, "In this presidential election, he emphasized the importance of pragmatic diplomacy and cooperation between Japan and South Korea, and between Japan, the United States and South Korea."
Both NHK and Kyodo News reported that "the Japanese government plans to push for an early summit meeting between Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Lee Jae-myung to confirm their willingness to cooperate."
The Sankei Shimbun expressed concern that "President Lee may distance himself from former President Yoon on issues such as historical problems and take a hard-line stance toward Japan."
The Japanese government issued an official statement saying that "Lee Jae-myung's election victory was a result that was expected to some extent" and that it was "taking the situation calmly."
A Foreign Ministry official said, "As the importance of Japan-South Korea cooperation grows, we hope that the new administration will continue the trend of improving relations."
Meanwhile, Japanese media reported that the Lee Jae Myung administration is in the midst of tariff negotiations with the United States.
The report also evaluated that the two countries are facing many diplomatic and economic challenges, including Japan-Korea economic cooperation and dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue. The Mainichi Shimbun reported, "South Korea is leveraging cooperation in the shipbuilding sector, which the United States is seeking, to gain an advantage in tariff negotiations.
They're going to try to move forward," he predicted.