This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7150806.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Voting begins in S Korea election | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| 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. | Mr Lee's opponents have labelled him a liar. He has denied any wrongdoing and has branded them mudslingers. |
| 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. Official results are expected by 2200 local time on Wednesday (1300 GMT). |
| Front-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. |
| In the last opinion poll before the vote, he registered a 30-point lead over his nearest rival, Chung Dong-young, of the ruling liberal United New Democratic Party (UNDP). | In the last opinion poll before the vote, he registered a 30-point lead over his nearest rival, Chung Dong-young, of the ruling liberal United New Democratic Party (UNDP). |
| 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. | Mr Roh ends his five-year term in office in February and cannot seek re-election. |
| A victory for Lee Myung-bak would see his Grand National Party (GNP) return to power for the first time in a decade. |