Pre-election surveys suggested Yoon’s liberal rival, Lee Jae-myung, appeared headed for an easy win, riding on deep public frustration over the conservatives in the wake of Yoon’s martial law debacle.
The main conservative candidate, Kim Moon Soo, has struggled to win over moderate, swing voters as his People Power Party remains in a quagmire of internal feuding over how to view Yoon’s actions.
The winning candidate will immediately be sworn in as president on Wednesday for a single, full term of five years without the typical two-month transition period. The new president will face major challenges including a slowing economy, US President Donald Trump’s America-first policies and North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats.
The election commission says voting began at 6 am at 14,295 polling stations nationwide that will close at 8 pm. Observers say the winner could emerge as early as midnight. (AP)
