A 'war of regime choices': S. Koreans vote for new president

Published May 23, 2017

Women walk by posters showing candidates for the presidential election in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, May 9, 2017. South Koreans voted Tuesday for a new president, with victory widely predicted for a liberal candidate who has pledged to improve ties with North Korea, re-examine a contentious U.S. missile defense shield and push sweeping economic changes. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (The Associated Press)

prev next

A woman casts her ballot for presidential election at a local polling station in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, May 9, 2017. South Koreans voted Tuesday for a new president, with victory widely predicted for a liberal candidate who has pledged to improve ties with North Korea, re-examine a contentious U.S. missile defense shield and push sweeping economic changes. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (The Associated Press)

South Korean presidential candidate Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party and his wife Kim Jung-suk prepare to cast their ballot for a presidential election at a junior high school in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, May 9, 2017. South Koreans voted Tuesday for a new president, with victory widely predicted for a liberal candidate who has pledged to improve ties with North Korea, re-examine a contentious U.S. missile defense shield and push sweeping economic changes. (Jeon Heon-kyun/Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

South Koreans are choosing their next president between a conservative who declared the election a "war of regime choices" and the liberal front-runner looking to overturn a decade of right-leaning rule.

Tuesday's election is the culmination of a frenzied two-month race set up by the scandal that toppled Park-Geun-hye, who is now jailed awaiting trial on corruption charges.

Liberal Moon Jae-in was the clear favorite as conservative forces struggled to regroup after Park's corruption scandal. Conservatives worry that a Moon presidency might benefit North Korea and estrange South Korea and its most important ally, the United States.

Voting stations are set to close at 8 p.m. and exit poll results are expected soon afterward.

The winner will be sworn in after the National Election Commission confirms the result early Wednesday.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/a-war-of-regime-choices-s-koreans-vote-for-new-president