SEOUL, South Korea - Propelled by the post-Cold War generation, South Koreans elected as their next president yesterday a maverick lawyer who wants to remain engaged with North Korea - and who is likely to declare a measure of independence from the United States.
Roh Moo-hyun, 56, a relative newcomer to the political scene, beat conservative opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang by 48.9 percent to 46.6 percent. Roh will succeed his political idol, President Kim Dae Jung, Feb. 25.
Roh's victory could augur a strained relationship between the United States and South Korea, traditionally one of the most steadfast U.S. allies. Amid a wave of anti-American protests across the country, the president-elect has made cautiously critical comments throughout the campaign about the Bush administration's positions on not only North Korea, but also Iraq and Afghanistan.
In his first speech as president-elect, Roh said this morning that he would work closely with the United States to "resolve peacefully the problem related to North Korea's nuclear development," while hinting there could be adjustments in the historic alliance. He also said he would seek changes in the Status of Forces agreement on the 37,000 U.S. troops in the country.
"The traditional friendship and alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States must mature and advance in the 21st century," Roh said in a speech at the national assembly.
Roh's victory was seen as an upset. Hours before voting booths opened, his most important backer, World Cup organizer Chung Mong-joon, withdrew his support over a perceived anti-American remark by Roh.
Voter turnout of about 70 percent was the lowest in South Korea's history, a phenomenon attributed to confusion over Chung's last-minute move.
Exit polls showed that voters in their 20s preferred Roh by a margin of nearly 2-to-1, while those in their 60s went for the 67-year-old Lee by the same lopsided margins.
"There is a new generation that wants to get out of the old Cold War style of politics," said Yum Dong Yeon, a strategist for the Roh campaign who was watching the election results last night at campaign headquarters in Seoul.
The election results were a vindication for President Kim and his Nobel Prize-winning "sunshine policy" of engagement with North Korea, which has been under attack by hawks.
Lee, who narrowly lost the 1997 election to Kim, has spent much of the past five years accusing his rival of appeasing North Korea. This morning, he apologized to supporters for the loss and announced that he is retiring from the leadership of the opposition Grand National Party and from politics.
Despite North Korea's declared intention to unfreeze its nuclear program, Roh promised not to suspend financial aid or to economic exchange programs, instead using gentle persuasion to get the North to renounce its nuclear ambitions.
That position puts Roh starkly in opposition with the Bush administration's demand that there be no "business as usual" with North Korea until it complies.
Roh, who has barely traveled outside of South Korea, has never been to the United States. The White House is expected to invite him for a visit before he is sworn in.
President Bush released a statement of congratulations to Roh yesterday and was expected to call him today to extend his personal regards.
"The people of South Korea have once again demonstrated the enduring vitality and dynamism of democracy in their country," presidential spokesman Ari Fleischer said. "South Korea is a close friend and ally of the United States, and the president looks forward to working closely with President-elect Roh as the United States and the Republic of Korea address the many challenges and opportunities that we face together."
Besides the North Korea issue, many voters said they were swayed by Roh's promises to reform the political system to reduce cronyism and bring in fresh faces.
Although Roh ran on the ticket of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, he created an image for himself as an outsider. And he managed to depict Lee, a former prosecutor and prime minister, as a representative of politics as usual.
Barbara Demick is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, a Tribune Publishing newspaper.