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.

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

Kim Moon-soo's concession means Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung has won the election to be South Korea's next leader. In a speech just concluded, Lee vowed to restore the country's economy and to make peace in the Korean peninsula.