A South Korean presidential election to choose a successor to ousted leader Park Geun-hye will be free and fair and held by May 9 at the latest, the election commission chairman said on Saturday.

The Constitutional Court dismissed Park Geun-hye on Friday over a graft scandal involving the country's conglomerates. Under the constitution, an election must be held within 60 days.

The chairman of the National Election Commission, Kim Yong-deok, said in a televised address he was concerned political differences could lead to an "overheated" atmosphere in the run-up to the vote and he called on the public to overcome "conflict" and take part.