Economic troubles dominate election

South Koreans go to the polls on Thursday to choose a new president in a first-past-the-post race overshadowed by the country's financial turmoil. Most see it as a close race between the two top contenders, a former supreme court judge and prime minister, Mr Lee Hoi-Chang (62), and the veteran opposition leader, Mr Kim Dae-Jung (73). Mr Kim has been the leading candidate, winning television debating points by calling the terms on which the IMF has lent funds to Korea too harsh. The youngest candidate, Mr Rhee In-Je (49), is seen as a spoiler who if he bowed out of the race would hand the election to Mr Lee.