South Korea to hold presidential election next week

In an interview with the Washington Post, Moon Jae-in, the Democratic Party candidate and front-runner to become South Korea’s next president, expressed concerns about the US interfering with the elections after the rushed installation of a THAAD anti-missile system.

Moon Jae-in said: “I don’t believe the U.S. has the intention, but I do have reservations. It is not desirable for the South Korean government to deploy THAAD hastily at this politically sensitive time with the presidential election, without going through the democratic process, an environmental assessment or a public hearing.”

Moon Jae-in has been leading in opinion polls ahead of the May 9 election. Charles Hay, British Ambassador to South Korea, will join Asia House corporate members to discuss recent developments in South Korea straight after the elections on 11 May.