South Korea: Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-Myung projected to win Presidency

Lee Jae-myung (second from left), leader of the opposition Democratic Party, had been leading opinion polls even before the election date was announced. -- PHOTO: JUN MICHAEL PARK/NYTIMES via The Straits Times/ANN

SEOUL, June 3 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- Vote counting began for South Korea's presidential election, officials said Tuesday. 

Yonhap news agency reported exit polls projected Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung to win the presidency, with the winner likely to emerge around midnight.

Counting kicked off at around 8.35 pm. local time, in ballot counting stations in North Gyeongsang Province, according to the National Election Commission.

The winner is expected to emerge around midnight, when 70 to 80 per cent of the votes are expected to be tallied. The vote count will continue through Wednesday morning. - Bernama-Yonhap