South Korea candidates rally in final stretch

Candidates running in South Korea's snap presidential election stage made a last push for votes yesterday, the eve of a poll triggered by the ex-leader Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law declaration.

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South Koreans are desperate to draw a line under six months of political turmoil sparked by Mr Yoon's brief suspension of civilian rule in December, for which he was impeached and removed from office.

All major polls put liberal Lee Jae-myung well ahead in the presidential race, with the latest Gallup survey showing 49% of respondents viewed him as the best candidate.

Conservative Kim Moon-soo, from the People Power Party - Mr Yoon's former party trailed Mr Lee on 35%.

Both candidates have framed the campaign as a fight for the soul of the nation.

Mr Lee is set to spend much of his final day of campaigning in his old stomping grounds of Gyeonggi-where he previously served as governor and built much of his support base.