Conservative may be South Korean president

SEOUL, Dec. 19 (UPI) -- Former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak, despite fraud allegations, was headed Wednesday for a big win to become South Korea's 17th president.

Voters ignored the allegations against Lee and went for the conservative opposition candidate's business credentials and his economic message. Lee has denied any wrongdoing.

CNN reported his opponents had conceded the election to give Lee, 65, who heads the opposition Grand National Party, a comfortable win.

Yonhap news agency reported with 56.8 percent of the vote counted, Lee had 47 percent or 6.3 million of the votes. His nearest contender, Chung Dong-young of the pro-government United New Democratic Party, had 27.5 percent of the votes.

"I'll do my utmost to rescue the South Korean economy from its crisis. I'll also work to promote harmony and integration of the divided society," Lee said.

Lee, who will become South Korea's first president to win a majority vote, had campaigned mainly on economic issues such as skyrocketing property prices and rising unemployment under the presidency of liberal Roh Moo-hyun, the report said.

Voter turnout was low. Only 62.9 percent of 37 million eligible voters cast ballots. Excessive smear campaigns against Lee were blamed, Yonhap reported.