South Korea impeachment leader projected to win presidency

A Tuesday joint exit poll from Korean broadcasters showed presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea beating the more conservative Kim Moon-soo. The poll, conducted by the KBS, MBC, and SBS networks, showed Lee ahead with 51.7% of the vote, while Kim trailed with 39.3%. The Democratic Party of Korea aims for peace with North Korea and has reservations against its alliance with the United States, according to the South Korean embassy in Qatar. Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party was projected to gain only 7.7%, according to The Korea Times.

Voter turnout reached a record high by Tuesday evening local time, with nearly 4 out of every 5 voters casting ballots, according to local news citing South Korea’s National Election Commission. Around 44 million people were eligible to vote in the election. A tentative result could come by midnight local time, according to local news.

What led up to the election? Democratic Party candidate Lee led an assembly vote to impeach former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol after he attempted to impose martial law last year, according to the Associated Press. Following the assembly vote, the country’s Constitutional Court in April removed Yoon. The former president claimed he needed martial law to stop pro-North Korean activities. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo served as interim head of state after Yoon’s ouster.

When will the winning candidate take office? South Korea’s next president will be sworn in on Wednesday. The winner of the snap election will serve for a single five-year term, without the typical two-month transition period after an election, according to the Associated Press.