Lee Jae-myung projected to win South Korea’s presidential election

Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung is projected to win South Korea’s snap presidential election, according to a joint exit poll by major broadcasters, as the country turns the page on a political crisis triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment.

South Korea’s Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung is poised for victory in the nation’s high-stakes snap presidential election, according to a joint exit poll released Tuesday by broadcasters KBS, MBC, and SBS.

The poll puts Lee at 51.7% of the vote, ahead of conservative rival Kim Moon-soo, who is projected to secure 39.3%. While Reuters has not independently confirmed the outcome, exit polls in past South Korean elections have generally aligned with final results. Official results are expected late Tuesday night.

The election follows months of political turmoil after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and removed from office in December for briefly imposing martial law. Yoon now faces trial on rebellion charges.

More than 15 million people - nearly 35% of eligible voters - participated in early voting over the weekend, a sign of heightened public engagement in the wake of the crisis.

The winner of the election will be sworn in immediately on Wednesday, skipping the usual transition period. 

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