Yoon Suk-yeol has been elected South Korea’s next president after a bitter battle over the future of the politically-divided nation.

With about 98 per cent of the ballots counted, People Power Party candidate Yoon had won 48.59 per cent of the votes, narrowly edging liberal rival Lee Jae-myung who garnered 47.80 per cent, though the outcome could still be contested.

The Washington Post Tokyo Bureau Chief Michelle Lee tells Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings both candidates in the South Korean election were so unpopular local media branded it “the election of the unfavourables”.

The pair were neck and neck in the polls for months, with the election campaign dominated by mud-slinging between liberal Jae-myung and conservative Suk-yeol.

“We have not seen two more unpopular candidates in quite a while,” Lee told Mornings.

Tap PLAY below to hear more about the fascinating election fight.