South Korea has chosen an advocate of engagement with Pyongyang as its president, in a vote that draws a line under almost a decade of conservative rule but which could also increase tensions with the US.
Around midnight local time Moon Jae-in claimed victory when both of his main opponents conceded defeat. Exit polls showed that Mr Moon, a former human rights lawyer, had amassed more than 41 per cent of the vote in Tuesday’s election, almost twice that of his nearest challenger.
Mr Moon’s rout of his two main rivals, conservative Hong Joon-pyo and centrist Ahn Cheol-soo, put an end to nine years of conservative rule by Park Geun-hye and her predecessor Lee Myung-bak.