The U.S. ally has been without a permanent leader since late last year, when then-President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached over his botched declaration of martial law.

South Korean opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is projected to be the new president following a snap election on Tuesday, according to an exit poll by Korean broadcasters, in a vote held exactly six months after the country’s previous leader declared martial law and plunged the nation into chaos.

South Korea's liberal party candidate Lee Jae-myung is projected to win the country's snap presidential election, according to projections by the country's broadcasters on Tuesday.