South Korea's presidential election was too close to call on Wednesday, exit polls showed, with vote counting underway in a race that will shape Asia's fourth largest economy for the next five years.
National Election Commission officials count ballots for the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea, March 9, 2022. REUTERS/ Kim Hong-J
Around 40% of the ballots had been counted as of midnight , with Lee's lead by just 0.5%, or some 72,000 votes. Preliminary results were expected in Thursday's early hours. The winner must tackle challenges including South Korea's worst wave of COVID-19 infections, growing inequality and surging home prices, while navigating an increasingly tense rivalry between China and the United States.
The exit polls suggested Lee had performed better than expected. Surveys last week had given Yoon the edge after he secured the support of a fellow conservative who had been trailing a distant third and then quit the race. Lee was seen garnering more votes than expected in Seoul, home to some 8.3 million voters, winning 45.4% in the joint exit poll compared with Yoon's 50.9%. Earlier polls had given Yoon a lead of up to 10% in the capital.
Moon's liberal Democratic Party is fighting to protect and continue his agenda, and also to head off threats by Yoon to investigate the outgoing administration for graft if elected. Lee was governor of the most populous province of Gyeonggi and shot to fame with his aggressive coronavirus responses and advocacy of a universal basic income.Both candidates' disapproval ratings matched their popularity as scandals, mud-slinging and gaffes dominated what was dubbed the "unlikeable election."
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