The toughest external challenges awaiting a new president are U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policy and North Korea’s advancing nuclear program.

As we reported earlier, exit polls are projecting that South Korea's next president will be Lee Jae-myung - a dramatic reversal of fortunes for the 61-year-old, who at the time of Yoon's martial law declaration stood convicted of making false statements during his last presidential campaign in 2022.

After a tighter-than-expected presidential election, Lee Jae-myung aims to restore stability to a nation wracked by months of political upheaval. But issues of trust remain.