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.

Kim Moon-soo, the conservative People Power Party’s presidential candidate, conceded defeat in the early hours of June 4, acknowledging the voters’ decision and congratulating his rival, Lee Jae-myung.