South Korea on Saturday called for a fair and free election in Egypt after Hosni Mubarak's 30-year-long grip on power ended Friday following weeks of mass street protests. "The South Korean government expects a fair and free election to take place in Egypt in accordance with aspirations of the Egyptian people," the foreign ministry said in a statement, adding it "respects" Mubarak's decision to finally step down. "The government will closely work with the Egyptian government and its people to upgrade the bilateral relations," the ministry said. Mubarak, who previously insisted not to resign until his presidential term expires in September, handed over power to the military.