Overview

• Upon taking office, Lee discovered the Yongsan presidential compound stripped of computers, printers and even pens and has ordered former staff to return and rebuild operations.
• He has named Kim Min Seok as prime minister and Kang Hoon Sik as chief of staff to address what officials warn is economic stagnation rivaling the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
• The Democratic Party’s commanding majority has already advanced bills to expand the Supreme Court and revive labor and broadcasting reforms vetoed by the previous president, raising fears of executive overreach.
• Lee’s pledge of “pragmatic diplomacy” seeks to rebalance ties by restoring dialogue with China and North Korea while affirming the U.S. alliance.
• A rare public U.S. warning against Chinese influence and discussions of U.S. troop reductions underscore an early test of Lee’s strategy to keep Seoul from being forced into a binary choice.