By Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung is projected to win next week's snap presidential election, a result that could reorient a major U.S. ally on policies ranging from China to nuclear weapons and North Korea.

After months of political turmoil, South Koreans will head to the polls Tuesday to elect a president to succeed disgraced former leader Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted from office over his ill-fated decision to impose martial law in December.

More than 12 million voters have cast their ballots in early voting so far for next week's South Korean presidential election, according to the national election commission on Friday, as