S. Korean conservative eyes upset in presidential vote

FILE, in this May 5, 2017, file photo, South Korean presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party is greeted by supporters during a presidential election campaign in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean opinion polls suggest that the fall of Park Geun-hye, the country’s ousted president who now awaits a corruption trial in jail, has doomed the chances of conservatives in next week’s presidential election. But if a conservative does pull off an upset on Tuesday, it’s likely to be Hong, the loudmouth former governor. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE, in this May 5, 2017 file photo, South Korean presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo of the Liberty Korea Party waves during a presidential election campaign in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean opinion polls suggest that the fall of Park Geun-hye, the country’s ousted president who now awaits a corruption trial in jail, has doomed the chances of conservatives in next week’s presidential election. But if a conservative does pull off an upset on Tuesday, it’s likely to be Hong, the loudmouth former governor. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File) (The Associated Press)

Outspoken former South Korean governor Hong Joon-pyo touts himself as a strongman and is looking to win an upset in Tuesday's election — and lift conservatives from a freefall.

Hong represents ousted President Park Geun-hye's Liberty Korea Party, and is perhaps the most surprising development of the two-month presidential race following Park's removal in March.

His rise shows that despite the street protests by millions that triggered Park's ouster on corruption charges, South Korea remains deeply split over its future, something that will likely hamper whoever becomes its next leader.

Hong has been riding the public's growing fear over North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles. He also says he can hold his own against other "nationalist" leaders in Washington, Tokyo and Beijing.