Polls begin to pick new South Korean president

Moon Jae-in (R) ofSouth Korea's biggest Minjoo Party and his wife cast their votes at a polling station in Seoul, capital of South Korea, May 9, 2017. South Korean on Tuesday held the 19th presidential election. (Xinhua/SeongJoon Cho/Pool)

SEOUL, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Polls began early Tuesday nationwide to pick new South Korean president in an earlier-than-usual by-election, which was caused by the removal of former President Park Geun-hye from office in March over corruption allegations.

The election to select the country's next president will last from 6 a.m. local time (2100 GMT Monday) to 8 p.m. (1100 GMT Tuesday) at 13,964 polling stations across the country.

The voting was extended by two hours compared with the 2012 presidential election to allow more people to join the momentous election for the country.

Hopes for the transfer of presidential power exploded with the influence-peddling scandal embroiling Park, which led to her impeachment and arrest, and the subsequent downfall of the conservative bloc.

The early voting, which was introduced in 2013 and first applied to this year's presidential race, attracted a record turnout of over 11 million, or 26 percent of the electorate.

The high rate reflected a great public interest in the election to pick Park's replacement.

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SEOUL, May 8 (Xinhua) -- South Koreais set to hold a presidential by-election Tuesday as former President Park Geun-hye was impeached and arrested in March over corruption allegations.

Public demand for the transfer of presidential power exploded with the influence-peddling scandal, involving Park and her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil who is also now in custody and on trial for bribery charges. Full story