-South Korea's Lee says Seoul must build bi-partisan support

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged his government on Tuesday to build bipartisan support in the US Congress as Seoul navigates the economic and security implications of the US midterm elections.



Lee told a cabinet meeting to expand engagement with US state governments and businesses, closely monitor financial markets and prepare contingency plans to limit any economic fallout.



"The most important thing is to focus our diplomatic efforts on strengthening and expanding trust and cooperation between South Korea and the United States from a mutually beneficial perspective," Lee said.



Democrats took control of Congress in last week's US midterm elections, making extraordinary gains deep in Republican territory with voters delivering a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump and his agenda.



His comments come as South Korean officials assess how the changed political landscape in Washington could affect AI investment and a crowded bilateral agenda spanning trade to friction over the treatment of companies and defence.