SEOUL: South Koreans were voting for a new president on Tuesday (Jun 3) to cap six months of turmoil triggered by a shock martial law briefly imposed by former leader Yoon Suk Yeol that marred the country's reputation as a vibrant, if at times chaotic, democracy.

The new leader will face the challenge of rallying a society deeply scarred by the attempt at military rule and an export-heavy economy reeling from unpredictable protectionist moves by the United States, a major trading partner and a security ally.

Turnout is expected to be high with polls open between 6am (5am, Singapore time) until 8pm following early voting when more than a third of the 44.39 million eligible voters cast their ballots.

As of 11am, 8.1 million people, or just over 18 per cent of the electorate, had voted

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