Visit highlights Obama's respect for Lee

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's visit to the United States will highlight his close bond with President Barack Obama, officials say.

The New York Times reports Obama's admiration will be reflected in the unusually warm welcome Lee receives when he arrives Wednesday, what with a White House state dinner, a chance to speak before a joint session of Congress, a trip to Detroit where he and Obama will tour a General Motors factory together.

The Times says Lee enjoys advantages Obama would like to have: less debt and a society dedicated to self-improvement. Its high-speed broadband network reaches more than 90 percent of the population (compared with 65 percent in America). A bigger proportion of South Koreans than Americans graduate from college. Korean schools are hiring more teachers in response to parents' demands, instead of laying them off.

Obama points to Lee's views on education in many of his speeches and cites the work ethic of the country as an example America would do well to follow.

The U.S. president has also developed a personal relationship with Lee he doesn't have with many world leaders, in contrast to Obama's predecessors George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, who had warm relationships with more foreign leaders.

"When Obama deals with foreign leaders, he tends to be very transactional," said Victor D. Cha, a former Asia adviser in the Bush administration who teaches at Georgetown University. "But there's absolutely no doubt that he has really connected on a personal level with this leader."

Obama also supports Lee's approach in dealing with North Korea, one tougher than his predecessors, including a hard line on the North's nuclear ambitions, but not resorting to military action in response to provocative acts, including the torpedoing of Navy ship and shelling of a South Korean island.

"The feeling was, 'This guy's approach on North Korea is right on the money, and it's our approach,' " said Jeffrey A. Bader, who was Obama's chief adviser on Asia at the National Security Council until April.

Michael Green, a senior Asia adviser in the Bush administration, says: "Lee Myung-bak is the most dynamic leader in that region right now. There's a lot to like about him for the White House."

Still, Lee, elected in 2007, has struggled with public opinion ratings even more than Obama, enduring street protests over American beef and continuing criticism over his business ethics. (Lee has no need to worry about re-election, however: South Korean presidents can serve only one five-year term.)