SKorea's President-Elect Urges NKorea The new leader, a pragmatic former Hyundai CEO, is considered less hard-line, although he has called for stricter reciprocity from Pyongyang for Seoul's aid. "I think unconditionally avoiding criticism of North Korea would not be appropriate," Lee told a news conference the day after the election. "If we try to point out North Korea's shortcomings, with affection, I think that would make North Korean society healthier." Lee also urged North Korea to dismantle its nuclear weapons program and said Seoul would open normal trade only after Pyongyang disarms. "The most important thing is for North Korea to get rid of its nuclear weapons," he said. "Full-fledged economic exchanges can start after North Korea dismantles its nuclear weapons." The North this year began disabling its main nuclear facility under an international accord with the U.S. and other countries _ the first time Pyongyang has scaled back its development of atomic weapons. North Korea has promised to declare all its nuclear programs by the end of the year that will be eventually dismantled. Lee won 48.7 percent of the Wednesday vote with the largest margin of victory ever in a South Korean presidential election _ besting his closest rival by more than 22 percent. Under the past two liberal presidents, South Korea had failed to publicly raise human rights problems in North Korea out of concern its criticism may anger Pyongyang and complicate reconciliation between the countries that remain technically at war. The 1950-53 Korean War ended with a cease-fire that has never been replaced by a peace treaty. The two Koreas embarked on unprecedented rapprochement after their leaders met for their first-ever summit in 2000, and the South is now North Korea's No. 2 trade partner after communist ally China. ad_icon The South also has been a main food donor for the impoverished North, but international monitors have raised questions about its ability to verify if aid gets to the needy and is not diverted to the military. Later Thursday, Lee spoke by phone with President Bush, pledging to strengthen relations with Washington and work together to resolve the standoff over North Korea's nuclear programs, Lee's office said in a statement. A state prosecutor had cleared him in early December of all allegations, but last Sunday a video clip surfaced in which Lee stated that he had founded a much-investigated firm that defrauded investors. He previously had denied any links to the bankrupt company. The video prompted the National Assembly (with Lee's approval) to appoint on Monday an independent prosecutor. The investigation must be completed before Lee is sworn in as president on Feb. 25. The South Korean constitution protects a sitting president from prosecution for crimes other than treason. But it is unclear whether Lee would be immune to an indictment issued while he is president-elect. While insisting he has done nothing wrong, Lee said this week that if he were found at fault in the investigation, he would give up the presidency. But analysts and diplomats here, noting that the president in South Korea possesses extraordinary legal and political power, said there is a high likelihood that state investigators would clear Lee. South Korean voters are accustomed to -- and often rather forgiving of -- corporate chieftains with ethical and legal difficulties. The biggest conglomerate in the country, Samsung, is currently swimming in scandal. It stands accused by a former company executive of creating a huge slush fund to bribe politicians. Six out of 10 likely voters, according to recent opinion polls, saw jobs and the economy as their top priorities. Only about 3 percent were similarly concerned about Kim Jong Il's dictatorship to the north. Lee has said that as president he would condition assistance to North Korea on political and economic reform, in contrast to what he described as Roh's too-lenient approach. He also has said that he is not interested in regime change in North Korea's capital, Pyongyang, and that he would like to help the impoverished government there follow the reform examples of China and Vietnam. Western diplomats said Lee is unlikely to do anything to upset efforts by the United States to reward North Korea for abandoning nuclear weapons. With single-minded discipline, Lee built his campaign around "economy first" policies and the prosperity that would follow. Exhibit A in his campaign was Lee himself and his personal up-by-the-bootstraps story. He grew up poor and put himself through college by collecting garbage. He served time in jail as an anti-government student activist but soon found his way to an entry-level position at a budding Korean conglomerate. After a 27-year career, Lee climbed to the chairmanship of Hyundai Construction, South Korea's largest construction company. Along the way, he became very rich. Then he turned to politics, serving four years as the popular mayor of Seoul. Lee Myung-bak, South Korea's first corporate executive to be elected president, celebrates in Seoul. Lee Myung-bak, South Korea's first corporate executive to be elected president, celebrates in Seoul. (By Lee Jin-man -- Associated Press) Several analysts here said that while Lee is likely to survive the corruption investigation with little or no damage, he could run aground politically in the short term if his economic promises come to nothing. "He has two or three years to produce a strong economy," said Kim Ki-jung, a professor of political science at Yonsei University in Seoul. "If he fails, concern about his morality and ethics will return." Perhaps because the election's outcome seemed so certain, voter turnout was a record-low 62.9 percent of the 37 million eligible voters, according to the National Election Commission. A much closer race five years ago attracted 71 percent turnout. Special correspondent Stella Kim contributed to this report.