SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea went to the polls to elect a new president to manage relations with nuclear-armed neighbors China and North Korea, and guide the export-driven economy as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens global growth.
Voting will run through 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at more than 14,000 stations, and exit polling released soon after that should give an early indication of the race between progressive Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main conservative People Power Party.
The vote looks to be the most wide open for president since the advent of full democracy about 35 years ago, with Yoon slightly ahead when the final polls allowed under election law were released last week. The issues of concern for voters are clear in the race for a leader who takes office in May and serves a single five-year term.
