Lee Jae-myung, a liberal who wants greater economic parity in South Korea and warmer ties with North Korea, became the main opposition party's presidential candidate Sunday, solidifying his position as front-runner to succeed recently ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol.

During Yoon's six hours of martial law on December 3, Lee climbed the National Assembly's walls to avoid security cordons deployed on Yoon's orders. He livestreamed his exploit, urging viewers to come to parliament and demonstrate to prevent the arrest of lawmakers.

South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party of Korea on Sunday named Lee Jae-myung, the party's ex-leader, as its candidate for the snap presidential election slated for June 3.Lee has been leading opinion polls for weeks with a double-digit gap over contestants from the conservative People Power Party,