South Koreans eye new era with presidential vote Updated 13h 1m ago on Dec.18.2007. By Paul Wiseman, USA TODAY SEOUL - South Korean voters are ready to elect a new president Wednesday who could be friendlier to the United States and tougher on North Korea: The conservative Lee Myung Bak is well ahead in the polls. The mood is a complete reversal from the previous presidential campaign five years ago. In 2002, leftist Roh Moo Hyun rode a wave of anti-American protests to the presidency, starting what analyst Cheon Seong Whun calls "the most turbulent period in the history" of U.S.-South Korea relations. The disconnect between the longtime allies came at a bad time: Just across the border, North Korea was testing missiles and an atomic bomb. Roh, meanwhile, sparred publicly with President Bush over the tough U.S. policy toward North Korea. The two had a testy face-to-face encounter in September in Sydney. Roh's "ideology, rhetoric and policy were openly anti-American," said Michael Auslin, Asia specialist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute. "Political relations were seriously damaged." Things are calmer now. North Korea has been on better behavior since agreeing in mid-February to end its nuclear weapons program in return for aid. The Bush administration has softened its stance toward the North, narrowing the diplomatic gap with Seoul. FIND MORE STORIES IN: North Korea | South Korea | Korea | Seoul | Polls | Hyundai | South Koreans | Roh Moo Hyun | Kim Dae Jung | Chosun Ilbo | Joongang Ilbo | Seongnam Meanwhile, South Korean voters have shelved their anti-U.S. feelings; 50.6% expressed a favorable opinion toward the United States in June, up from 37.2% in December 2002, according to polls by Gallup Korea for the daily Chosun Ilbo. Voters are rallying around former Hyundai executive and Seoul mayor Lee and his Grand National Party. The final poll before the election, conducted last week by the daily JoongAng Ilbo, showed Lee trouncing Chung Dong Young of the United New Democratic Party 44.7% to 15.7%. Chung is heir to the left-wing legacy of Roh and his predecessor, Kim Dae Jung. Front-runner Lee, 65, has vowed to moderate Roh and Kim's "Sunshine Policy" of unconditional aid to impoverished North Korea. Most South Koreans still want to help the North, but many are tired of getting nothing in return. "Lee Myung Bak has read the people's mind," said Sung Han Kim, professor of international relations at Korea University. "He supports engagement based on reciprocity." Lee has said he would offer generous aid to North Korea only if it keeps its commitment to dismantle its nukes and reforms its state-run economy. In return, Lee would set up a $40 billion fund with other rich countries to invest in the North. The stated goal: to increase North Korea's per-capita income from $500 to $3,000 over the next 10 years. Lee has vowed to rethink North-South projects — including a ship factory and new economic zones — that Roh pushed through in the final weeks of his presidency. "It's obvious that the governments in both Koreas tried to make as many promises as possible … to force the next government in Seoul to follow through on them," Lee told Chosun Ilbo. Roh committed to the projects during a three-day summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il in October. Prosecutors cleared Lee earlier this month of wrongdoing in a stock price manipulation case surrounding a former business associate. However, parliament voted Monday to launch an investigation into fraud allegations against him. South Korean voters may be more concerned about the sluggish economy than anything else. According to a November poll by JoongAng Ilbo, 24.1% are worried about employment, vs. just 5.2% concerned about North Korea and 2.4% about U.S.-South Korea relations. Lee rose from poverty to become head of the construction arm of the Hyundai conglomerate. He promises to be a CEO president. His campaign slogan is "Economy First!" His surging candidacy also reflects the rise of Christian activism. A Presbyterian, Lee has received strong support from Christians, who account for 29% of the population, more than any other religion. Christians are more likely than other South Koreans to believe that political leaders should have strong religious beliefs (67% to 22%), according to a survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.