South Korea’s top presidential candidates made their final appeals to voters on Monday, traveling across the nation before gathering in Seoul. They promised to rejuvenate a struggling economy and move past the recent unrest caused by a failed attempt to impose martial law.

The election scheduled for Tuesday was called after the removal of Yoon Suk Yeol, who had briefly declared martial law in December, surprising many South Koreans who believed such military interventions in democracy were a thing of the past.

The liberal frontrunner, Lee Jae-myung, pledged to heal the social divisions that deepened following Yoon’s martial law announcement. He also criticized his opponent and Yoon’s party, accusing them of supporting insurrection.

“We face a crucial moment: will we continue as a democratic republic or turn into a dictatorship?” Lee declared during a rally in Seoul, a key battleground city.

If elected, Lee said his immediate focus would be tackling economic challenges, prioritizing relief for middle- and low-income households and support for small business owners.

After campaigning in pivotal swing areas and his conservative rival Kim Moon-soo’s strongholds, Lee concentrated on the capital region, which holds the largest share of South Korea’s 44.39 million voters.

About 40,000 people attended Lee’s final rally near the National Assembly, where he and other lawmakers had previously voted to end the martial law six months earlier as soldiers were blocked from entering the building.

Kim started his final day on Jeju Island before traveling north, accusing Lee of being a “dangerous man” who would misuse presidential power and dominate parliament under a “Hitler-style” dictatorship if elected.

The conservative candidate apologized again for the imposition of martial law and promised political reforms.

“Martial law was a mistake, along with other wrongdoings. I vow that politics in Korea will change,” Kim said at his last rally near Seoul City Hall.

Both candidates were set to conclude their official three-week campaigns at midnight in Seoul, with polls opening nationwide at 6 a.m. Tuesday. The election winner will be confirmed on Wednesday and will assume office almost immediately, due to the previous president’s removal by the Constitutional Court in early April, bypassing the usual two-month transition period.