Yoon Seok-youl has hearts aflutter in Tokyo. That’s impressive, since he is neither a K-pop superstar nor a Korean media heartthrob. Yoon is the former prosecutor-general who has been tapped to be presidential candidate for the People Power Party, South Korea's leading conservative opposition party.
Yoon’s popularity in Japan reflects his forceful support for the restoration of positive relations between South Korea and Japan. Last week, he set as his lodestar the golden era of bilateral ties — that of Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.
His lead in opinion polls is encouraging, but there are four months until the ballot, an eternity in politics, especially for a newcomer like Yoon who must navigate treacherous political currents and faces an experienced and charismatic opponent. Few issues are as electric in Korean politics as relations with Japan, and while domestic issues will determine the outcome of next year’s vote, Yoon’s call for improved relations will be used against him throughout the campaign.