Both Lee and conservative Kim pledged change for a country deeply scarred by a shock martial law briefly imposed by former leader Yoon Suk Yeol.

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea's conservative presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo conceded defeat early on Wednesday in the June 3 snap election. Kim told a press conference that he had congratulated his opponent, liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung, on his election victory.

With Korea’s 21st presidential election now concluded, candidates have begun the process of settling their campaign expenses.