The 20th South Korean presidential elections held in 2022 broke the pattern of the incumbent government remaining in power for two consecutive terms that had continued since the 1987 elections. The conservative candidate Yoon Suk-yeol won the presidency after just five years of the relatively progressive Moon Jae-in administration. The incoming Yoon government is expected to bring significant changes to the country's diplomacy and security policy as the individual leadership of the president is especially strongly reflected in these areas. The conservative party in South Korea has traditionally emphasized the U.S.-ROK alliance. Likewise, the Yoon administration has also stressed its intent to actively utilize the alliance as a security asset in the process of seeking security and peace on the Korean peninsula. The '110 Key National Tasks' announced on May 3 clearly demonstrates this approach. Regarding the U.S., the Yoon government has stated the strengthening of a comprehensive strategic alliance, a partnership to enhance South Korea's global status, and close bilateral coordination to solve the North Korean problem as its main policies.
The global diplomatic and security environment on the Korean peninsula is as perilous as ever. Tensions between the U.S. and China are intensifying, and the repercussions may be most serious for countries in Northeast Asia. Competition between major great powers is expected to heighten following the war in Ukraine. Moreover, economic security is becoming more important, while problems such as climate change and the environment that are impossible for any one country to solve have emerged as immediate challenges confronting the entire international community. South Korea and the U.S. closely share common values such as democracy, a market economy, institutional efficiency, international law, and human rights. The U.S.-ROK alliance over the past 70 years is considered to be an exceptionally successful alliance unprecedented in world history. The Yoon administration must seek to continue these past accomplishments while also securing greater autonomy vis-à-vis the U.S. by leveraging the strengths of a conservative government.