South Koreans flocked to the polls Tuesday to elect a new president, six months to the day after ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol plunged the country into political chaos with his disastrous declaration of martial law.

After months of turmoil and a revolving door of lame-duck acting leaders, many South Koreans are eager for the country to move forward.

All major polls have put liberal Lee Jae-myung well ahead, with the latest Gallup survey showing 49% of respondents viewed him as the best candidate.

Kim Moon-soo, from the conservative People Power Party (PPP), has trailed Lee in the polls and was on 35% in the Gallup survey.

Whoever emerges victorious will take office almost immediately and faces a bulging in-tray, including global trade vicissitudes chafing the export-driven economy, some of t

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