Seoul — Left-leaning former human rights lawyer, Moon Jae-in, won South Korea’s presidential election by a landslide, an exit poll predicted when voting closed on Tuesday. The election was called to choose a new president after Park Geun-hye was ousted and indicted for corruption, and took place against a backdrop of high tensions with the nuclear-armed North. Voters were galvanised by anger over the sprawling bribery and abuse-of-power scandal that brought down Park, which catalysed frustrations over jobs and slowing growth. They gave Moon, of the Democratic Party, who backs engagement with the North, 41.4% support, according to the joint survey by three TV stations. Conservative Hong Joon-pyo — who dubs Moon a "pro-Pyongyang leftist" — was far behind on 23.3%, with centrist Ahn Cheol-soo third with 21.8%. "I feel the people’s strong will to change the government ... we can make it a reality only when we vote," Moon said after casting his ballot with his wife in western Seoul. Nati...

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