VOA常速英语2007年-South Korean Presidential Frontrunner Cleared o

The frontrunner in South Korea's presidential race has avoided what many political analysts² describe as his only serious obstacle to victory. Prosecutors⁴ have cleared former Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak of fraud accusations⁵, putting him in a position to consolidate⁶ a double-digit poll lead over rivals. As VOA's Kurt Achin reports from the South Korean capital, Lee's opponents are not accepting the announcement passively.

Senior prosecutor³ Kim Hong-il says his office will not prosecute⁷ presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak, after an investigation⁸ into allegations of stock price manipulation and fraud.

He says investigators⁹ found "no evidence" Lee was involved in rigging share prices. Therefore, he says, there will be no prosecution¹⁰.

Lee, a former Seoul mayor, had been suspected of making tens of millions of dollars using fraudulent financial practices in partnership¹¹ with Korean-American executive Kim Kyung-jun. Kim, who was arrested in the United States in 2005, was extradited to South Korea last month, fueling speculation¹² Lee would be implicated¹³.

Despite the allegations, Lee has enjoyed a significant lead in public opinion polls as the presidential candidate of the conservative Grand National Party, or GNP. The election will be December 19.

Experts say the fraud allegations were a key factor in the decision last month by fellow conservative Lee Hoi-chang to announce an independent candidacy last month.

Liberal candidates such as former Unification Minister Chung Dong-young had highlighted the stock manipulation allegations, in hope of boosting their campaigns.

Following the prosecutor's announcement Wednesday, GNP Chairman Kang Jae-suk, rebuked¹⁴ Lee's opponents.

Kang says Chung and his party should "kneel down and apologize" for deceiving the electorate¹⁵.

Chung, however, is not kneeling down. He led a rally Wednesday to protest the decision, and says his campaign will hold more such rallies in the days ahead.

Chung tells a crowd of supporters the prosecution has failed in its duty to reveal the truth - so they must themselves insist that the truth come out.

Kim Jin-hah, a political science professor at South Korea's Keimyoung University, says Lee Myung-bak's opponents have essentially¹⁶ run out of strategic options.

He says there is not really anything opposing candidates can do to dent¹ Lee's polling lead, with so little time before the election.

Latest figures indicate Lee's approval rating hovers¹⁷ at about 40 percent - about 20 percentage points higher than his closest rival.

The constitution bars the current president, Roh Moo-hyun, from running for re-election.