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

Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung is on course to be South Korea’s next president following a snap election, with official results showing him well ahead of his main rival who conceded defeat early Wednesday morning.

Lee Jae-myung, the liberal South Korean politician elected on Tuesday as the country's next leader, overcame a knife attack, martial law and criminal charges on his unexpected path to the presidency.