South Korea's Lee moves to lock in US ties as midterms reshape Congress

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung wasted no time after the US midterms, declaring that Seoul will hold its alliance with Washington steady despite the shift in control of Congress. The results handed the Democrats a stronger-than-expected win and left the Republicans licking their wounds, per Yonhap.

Lee told his officials to plan for turbulence abroad, saying the priority is limiting damage to South Korea's own economy from outside shocks. In his words, the bigger task is widening the base of cooperation and trust between the two countries so both sides come out ahead.

The president also wants Seoul to keep working closely with the US administration while reaching across the aisle. He pressed for outreach to lawmakers from both parties, state governments and the business world to shore up ties beyond the White House.

Seoul's top diplomat had already downplayed the fallout. Prime Minister Han Seong-sook told a parliamentary budget committee that the alliance matters to Democrats and Republicans alike, so she doesn't expect major changes in relations with Washington — even while conceding the Democrats' win was bigger than anticipated.