The National Assembly on Thursday passed bills to launch special counsel probes into insurrection charges surrounding former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid and allegations against Yoon's wife.

A doctored image of US President Donald Trump apparently holding up a message in support of impeached South Korean leader Yoon Suk Yeol has surfaced after the Asian nation elected a new leader on June 3.

South Korea's right is looking to remake itself after a massive defeat in this week's snap presidential election that left it with little power to challenge the ruling Democratic Party. New leader Lee Jae-myung and his party now control parliament and the presidency with Tuesday's polls exposing the smouldering resentment in South Korea over former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law declaration in December.

Vote counting started in South Korea’s snap presidential election Tuesday to choose Yoon Suk Yeol’s successor, after the conservative was ousted over his imposition of martial law late last year.

The National Assembly on Thursday passed bills to launch special counsel probes into insurrection charges surrounding former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid and allegations against Yoon's wife.

Liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung has won South Korea's snap presidential election with a clear lead. With all of the ballots counted, Lee won almost 50% of the vote, ahead of his conservative rival Kim Moon-soo on 41%.