Taiwan congratulates South Korea in selecting new president

Taipei, June 4 (CNA) Taiwan's government on Wednesday congratulated South Korea on its snap presidential election on Tuesday won by Lee Jae-myung of the opposition Democratic Party.

Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) extended his congratulations to the people of South Korea and to Lee, on behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China, Taiwan's formal name.

Kuo said Taiwan and South Korea share the values of freedom and democracy, and have long enjoyed close interactions in various fields such as trade and culture.

Lai expressed hope that through joint efforts by both sides, Taiwan and South Korea will continue to expand cooperation and exchanges in trade, technology, education, and culture, and will work together to contribute to democracy, peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, Kuo said.

In a separate statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) offered Taiwan's congratulations to the Korean people and its government for once again electing a head of state "through a peaceful and democratic process."

Taiwan's government sent its official congratulatory letter to the Korean government via Taiwan's representative office in Seoul, it said, without elaborating.

MOFA said in its statement that Taiwan and South Korea are both key members of the Indo-Pacific region and enjoy long-standing and deep ties and share the values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

The Korean government has in recent years repeatedly reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and security across the Taiwan Strait, indicating that Taipei and Seoul value safeguarding regional peace and prosperity and stopping the expansion of authoritarianism, it said.

Based on this existing friendship, the government of Taiwan looks forward to deepening exchanges and cooperation with Korea under the new ruling administration in key areas and working together to maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, it said.

Lee, a 61-year-old former lawyer, was officially confirmed earlier Wednesday as president by the National Election Commission and immediately assumed the presidency.

He won 49.42 percent of the nearly 35 million votes cast while his main rival Kim Moon-soo of the ruling People Power Party (PPP) took 41.15 percent in the polls. The 79.4 percent turnout was the highest for a presidential election since 1997.

Tuesday's snap election was held following the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol of the PPP over his failed martial law bid.