When voters in the Republic of Korea go to the polls to elect their new president on Dec 19, foreign policy will not be the main concern for a majority of them. The economy, jobs and welfare programs have been center stage in the campaign debates. However, foreign policy will be no less important for the ROK over the next five years.

No matter who wins, whether it is Park Geun-hye, the ruling Saenuri Party candidate, or Moon Jae-in, the opposition Democratic United Party candidate, the ROK's new leader must steer the country through turbulent waters, as history shows that power shifts are accompanied by uncertainties and the likelihood of clashes increases.

In a remarkable coincidence, China, Japan and the ROK are going through leadership changes at nearly the same time. Xi Jinping became the new head of the Communist Party of China on Nov 15, while Shinzo Abe will become Japan's prime minister for the second time after Liberal Democratic Party won election on Dec 16.