By Jessie Yeung, CNN

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) — After half a year of political turmoil, uncertainty and division, South Koreans voted Tuesday for a new president to succeed Yoon Suk Yeol, the disgraced former leader who plunged the democratic nation into chaos by declaring martial law in December.

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is projected to win, according to a joint exit poll published by Korean broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS on Tuesday night.

The exit poll projects that Lee, of the liberal Democratic Party, will win in a landslide with 51.7% of the vote. His main rival, Kim Moon-soo of the ruling conservative People Power Party, is projected to win 39.3% of the vote. Official results have yet to be announced.

This election feels particularly significant; the country, a US ally and

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