Moon Jae-in on TIME's cover: kudos to S. Korea's next leader?

By Park Si-soo

Appearing on the cover of the U.S. magazine TIME is sometimes more than just being a cover model -- especially before important political events.

The news magazine used to wrap its front cover with a staged portrait of the most likely new leader of a country before his/her formal election (or victory by any means). And in recent memory, there was no case denying the accuracy of its model-winner matchup.

Four years ago, TIME bet on Park Geun-hye, not knowing that she -- described as the Strongman’s Daughter in its cover story -- would defeat Moon by a very narrow margin.

On Thursday, Moon appeared on the cover of TIME’s Asian edition, which indicates that the magazine firmly believes he will be South Korea’s next leader, replacing the ousted Park Geun-hye, when the presidential election is held on May 9.

The photo shows Moon glaring forward with his lips shut tightly -– somewhat resolutely –- against a black backdrop, under the headline “The Negotiator.”

The story covers Moon’s life, from a front-line commando who put his life on the line in 1976 for a deadly mission in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), to his family background, the time he served as a human rights lawyer, political philosophy (especially on North Korea and the United States) and how he made his way toward the nation’s top job.

Moon told TIME that his destiny is to bring the two Koreas closer together after seven decades being apart.

“The North and South were one people sharing one language and one culture for about 5,000 years,” he was quoted as saying. “Ultimately, we should reunite.”

The article wraps up with the leading candidate’s personal reason for supporting reunification.

“My mother is the only one [of her family] who fled to the South,” Moon says. “[She] is 90 years old. Her younger sister is still in the North alive. My mother's last wish is to see her again.”

Did TIME make the right choice this time? Are there any chances things will go awry? Fortunately for the magazine, it seems unlikely, at least for now.

With the election just four days away, Moon leads the latest polls by a wide margin.