Seoul: South Koreans voted Tuesday to elect a new president in a high-stakes election that comes six months after former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial martial law declaration, which plunged the nation into a significant economic and political crisis.

According to Yonhap News Agency, of the 44.39 million eligible voters, approximately 71.5 percent had cast their ballots by 4 p.m. at 14,295 polling stations nationwide. This figure includes early, overseas, shipboard, and absentee votes. Interest in the election was notably high, with 34.74 percent of voters participating in early voting, marking the second-highest turnout since the introduction of early voting in 2014.

The election features two primary contenders: Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party, who promises to punish the “insurrection forces” led by Yoon, and Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party, who has focused on Lee’s ongoing legal challenges. While Lee and Kim voted early, other political figures, including former President Yoon and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, voted on Election Day.

The election day saw reports of 81 alleged election law violations, including an incident involving a red balloon with “President Kim Moon-soo” near a polling station. Election laws strictly prohibit campaign activities within 100 meters of polling stations.

Vote counting is set to begin after polls close at 8 p.m., with results expected by midnight. The winner will assume office immediately, with the inauguration ceremony likely occurring at the National Assembly. Five candidates remain in the race, with Lee and Kim leading the polls. Both candidates prioritize economic growth and constitutional reform, though they differ on timelines and approaches.