Conservative and centrist rivals of Moon Jae-in, a candidate of the liberal Minjoo Party, said they would accept the result of South Korean presidential election in an apparent concession to Moon.
With nine per cent of votes counted as of 10:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT), Moon garnered 37.5 per cent support.
It was higher than the 28.9 per cent won by Hong Joon-pyo of the conservative Liberty Korea Party and 21.1 per cent garnered by Ahn Cheol-soo of the centrist People’s Party.
Hong said in a televised address that he would accept the election result and be satisfied with restoring his party.
Ahn told the televised speech that he would humbly accept the election result, hoping that his country could go toward a future with a new president.
Their comments were seen by local media outlets as an apparent concession to Moon.
Yonhap news agency estimated that Moon’s victory is assured, viewing the speeches of Hong and Ahn as their concessions to Moon.
Local newspapers Hankyoreh and Kyunghyang Shinmun regarded their comments as an actual concession.
Local cable news channel JTBC also reported that Moon’s victory was sealed. (Xinhua/NAN)