The snap election follows the impeachment of former president Yoon for declaring martial law.

On Friday, right-winger Kim said voting for Lee would end up "collapsing our economy", hoping to sway voters in small cities such as Jecheon, an inland town of about 130,000 surrounded by mountainous tourist spots, who are looking for a turning point to revive South Korea's fortunes.

That’s an indication some voters aren’t really buying Lee’s attempts to shift toward the political centre. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

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Voters are hoping the winner will calm the economic and political shocks that have roiled the country since December's martial law decree.

South Koreans will pick a new leader on June 3, after ex-president Yoon's actions led to months of political chaos. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

South Korean police have banned former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and ex-Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok from travelling abroad as part of a probe into alleged insurrection linked to former leader Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid,

South Korea votes June 3 to elect a new president after Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, with liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung facing conservative Kim Moon-soo in a pivotal race shaped by political upheaval.