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Voting begins in South Korea poll South Koreans vote for president
(about 7 hours later)
South Koreans are voting for a new president after an election campaign blighted by scandal.South Koreans are voting for a new president after an election campaign blighted by scandal.
Conservative candidate Lee Myung-bak is widely expected to win, despite being under investigation for alleged fraud.Conservative candidate Lee Myung-bak is widely expected to win, despite being under investigation for alleged fraud.
Mr Lee's opponents have labelled him a liar. He has denied any wrongdoing and has branded them mudslingers. Polls show him far ahead of his two main rivals, ruling party candidate Chung Dong-young and independent Lee Hoi-chang.
The candidates are battling to succeed the liberal President Roh Moo-hyun. Official results are expected by 2200 local time on Wednesday (1300 GMT). The candidates are battling to succeed the liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, who ends his five-year term in February.
Official results are expected by 2200 local time on Wednesday (1300 GMT).
Front-runnerFront-runner
According to opinion polls, the main issue for most of the country's 37 million voters is the economy.According to opinion polls, the main issue for most of the country's 37 million voters is the economy.
Mr Lee, a 65-year-old former Hyundai executive, seems to have convinced many that he can attract investment and boost the job market.Mr Lee, a 65-year-old former Hyundai executive, seems to have convinced many that he can attract investment and boost the job market.
THE CANDIDATES Lee Myung-bak: Frontrunner, former Hyundai executiveChung Dong-young: Liberal, member of current cabinetLee Hoi-chang: Veteran conservative Profiles: Presidential hopefulsSouth Korea's "dirty" election
But his campaign has been overshadowed by claims that he was involved in stock market fraud.But his campaign has been overshadowed by claims that he was involved in stock market fraud.
Fights broke out in parliament when South Korean MPs debated a bill to establish an independent inquiry into the allegations. Fights broke out in parliament when MPs passed a bill to establish an independent inquiry into the allegations - to be completed before the presidential inauguration in February.
The BBC's John Sudworth in Seoul says there is uncertainty about what it will mean if South Korea does indeed wake up with Mr Lee as its President Elect on Thursday morning. Casting his vote in the capital, Seoul, Mr Lee thanked supporters for defending him from what he called "numerous negative campaigns" and urged people to turn out and vote.
THE CANDIDATES Lee Myung-bak: Frontrunner, former Hyundai executiveChung Dong-young: Liberal, member of current cabinetLee Hoi-chang: Veteran conservative class="" href="either url here">Profiles: Presidential hopefuls class="" href="either url here">South Korea's "dirty" election "This time, we have to change the government without fail," he said.
The independent inquiry is set to be completed before the inauguration of the new president in February. A victory for Mr Lee would see his Grand National Party (GNP) return to power for the first time in a decade.
Mr Lee's main rival - Chung Dong-young, of the ruling liberal United New Democratic Party (UNDP) - has said that a victory for Mr Lee would bring disgrace on the country. 'Truth and lies'
But his main rival - Chung Dong-young, of the governing liberal United New Democratic Party (UNDP) - said such a victory would bring disgrace on the country.
"This election is a battle between truth and lies," he told journalists as he cast his ballot.
The election campaign has been hard-fought
In the last opinion poll before the vote, Mr Lee registered a 30-point lead over Mr Chung, a former cabinet minister.In the last opinion poll before the vote, Mr Lee registered a 30-point lead over Mr Chung, a former cabinet minister.
Analysts say the other mainstream challenger, veteran conservative Lee Hoi-chang, has little chance of making an impact.Analysts say the other mainstream challenger, veteran conservative Lee Hoi-chang, has little chance of making an impact.
Mr Roh ends his five-year term in office in February and cannot seek re-election. A Lee Myung-bak win could usher in a tougher stance towards North Korea, reports the BBC's John Sudworth from Seoul.
A victory for Lee Myung-bak would see his Grand National Party (GNP) return to power for the first time in a decade. Mr Lee says he wants to see more in return for the aid and trade given to Pyongyang as a result of the decade-long policy of engagement.
But the issue ranks low on the list of priorities for South Koreans, our correspondent adds.
Many are focused instead on the state of the economy and if the opinion polls are to be believed, the South Korean public may be willing to put aside questions of ethics when voting for the man they think best suited to the job.