Newly elected South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday he is willing to visit North Korea, and to negotiate with China and the United States over the controversial deployment of a U.S. missile defense system in South Korea.
Moon took the official oath of office during a ceremony in Seoul following Tuesday's election victory.
South Korea's election commission said Moon won 41 percent of the vote, beating out conservative Hong Joon-pyo, who finished at 24 percent, and centrist Ahn Cheol-soo, who got 21 percent.
"I will be president for all South Koreans," the Liberal Democratic Party of Korea candidate told cheering supporters in Seoul, after his two closest rivals conceded defeat.
Voter turnout was historically high at 77 percent following a tumultuous political period in which ex-President Park Geun-hye was removed from office.