Seoul: South Koreans participated in a significant presidential election on Tuesday, choosing between a liberal and a conservative candidate as the nation grapples with the aftermath of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration. This election comes exactly six months after Yoon's announcement, which triggered economic and political upheaval.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Election Commission (NEC) reported that by 5 p.m., 73.9 percent of the 44.39 million eligible voters had cast their ballots. This figure includes early voting and marks the highest turnout for this time in a presidential election. Early voting saw 34.74 percent of registered voters cast their ballots, the second-highest since early voting began in 2014.

The liberal Democratic Party's candidate, Lee Jae-myung, campaigned on addressing the "insurrection forces" associated with Yoon's impeachment. Meanwhile, the conservative People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo criticized Lee's legal challenges and leadership style, advocating for a future without "dictatorship."

Both candidates voted during the early voting period, while other political figures, including former President Yoon, participated on Election Day. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik expressed hope for overcoming political "chaos."

The election day also saw reports of 81 alleged election law violations, including an incident involving a balloon bearing Kim's name near a polling station. Election laws prohibit such acts within 100 meters of polling stations.

Vote counting is set to begin after polls close at 8 p.m., with results expected around midnight. The NEC plans to approve the election results in a meeting between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. the following day. The new president will assume office immediately, with the inauguration likely occurring at the National Assembly soon after.

Five candidates remain in the race, with Lee and Kim as the frontrunners. Pre-election surveys indicated Lee's lead over Kim, though the gap had decreased. Both candidates emphasized economic growth, particularly in AI, and shared views on constitutional changes for presidential terms.

Kim proposed a shortened term to align with National Assembly members, while Lee suggested a referendum for constitutional amendments starting in 2030.