Despite his liberal roots, President Lee Jae-myung is unlikely to pursue bold inter-Korean cooperation soon. Instead, he will focus on South Korea’s domestic recovery and pursue practical, low-key engagement with Pyongyang.
Lee Jae-myung, a member of the Democratic Party, may be liberal, but don’t expect an inter-Korean summit anytime soon.
While he will surely abandon Yoon Suk-yeol’s ideology-based politics that branded the Democratic Party as “anti-state forces” and pro-engagement policies as “anti-state activities” in cahoots with North Korea, Lee will not go as far as Kim Dae-jung’s Sunshine Policy or Moon Jae-in’s proactive engagement policy with Pyongyang during his term for two reasons.
How Is Lee Jae-myung Different from Other Korean Democrats?
First, domestic affairs take precedence over inter-Korea policies. The Lee administration came to power amid urgent challenges posed by the second Trump presidency. During the six months of the presidential vacuum, the US initiated a trade war with the rest of the world, including South Korea, by announcing unilateral tariffs.
For Lee, attending to South Korea’s economy is a top priority as the administration scrambles to get the house in order after a tumultuous six months of political and economic instability following Yoon’s December 3 martial law. North Korea will be on the back burner as Lee proves his administrative and political competence to his supporters and opponents.
Second, inter-Korean relations have undergone significant changes in the last three years. Not only has North Korea scrapped the idea of unification altogether in 2023, but it has also found a new partner in Russia. The deepening of Moscow-Pyongyang ties has proven more durable than initially predicted following Kim Jong-un’s summit with Vladimir Putin in September 2023. The two leaders met again during a ceremonial summit in Pyongyang in June 2024, marking the consolidation of their partnership. With Russia and its war with Ukraine as North Korea’s newfound source of economic growth and military and technology transfer, Kim has little to lose from bypassing South Korea altogether.
President Lee Is More Realistic than Past Korean Democrats
In line with his overall foreign policy of pragmatism, Lee’s inter-Korea policy will also be practical, focusing on feasible working-level policies rather than a grandiose strategy comprising summitry or an ambitious economic cooperation plan.
Lee’s inter-Korean policy prioritizes South Korea’s interests and the well-being of the South Korean people.
One of the first measures he took against North Korea was to turn off the speakers at the inter-Korean border playing K-pop towards North Korea, citing the need to “reduce discomfort” among residents living near the border. This preference for “needless provocation” is also reflected in Lee’s order to prevent and punish leaflet launches.
The nomination of Chung Dong-young as Minister of Unification also reveals Lee’s pragmatic approach to North Korea and inter-Korean relations. Chung brings extensive experience in dealing with North Korea, with a preference for practical diplomacy and viable policies, such as people-to-people exchanges in the form of family reunions and smaller-scale economic initiatives.
During the Roh Moo-hyun administration in 2005, he served as Minister of Unification and Chair of the National Security Council. He then met privately with Kim Jong-il to discuss the now-defunct Six-Party Talks and a proposal for virtual family reunions.
Will President Lee Be Less Friendly to America?
The Lee administration’s pragmatism overture will not be problematic for Washington’s North Korea policy.
As in Seoul, North Korea has taken a backseat since the start of the second Trump term. The White House has been preoccupied with domestic issues while dismantling existing security and economic arrangements with allies and partners. The ongoing war in Ukraine and Gaza and the Iran-Israel escalation will also take precedence in Washington for the foreseeable future.
About the Author: Minseon Ku
Minseon Ku is an incoming Assistant Professor of Applied Diplomacy at DePaul University and a postdoctoral fellow at William and Mary’s Global Research Institute. Previously, she was the Spencer Fellow in US Foreign Policy and International Security at the Dickey Center at Dartmouth. Her primary research interests lie at the intersection of diplomacy and international security, focusing on how summitry between adversaries influences domestic public opinion on foreign policy.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Daily Minjoo.
