As South Koreans head to the polls on March 9, they should be alert to a progressive movement that seeks to distance their country from the United States, according to former U.S. State Department official Morse Tan. The former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, speaking to EpochTV’s “China Insider” program, stressed how the upcoming presidential election outcome would decide whether the country pivots closer to the United States, or North Korea and China instead. Yoon Suk-yeol of the conservative People Power Party and Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party are the forerunners of the extremely tight race. Both bring different foreign policy approaches to the tabe: Yoon is seen as hawkish on China and North Korea, while Lee is viewed as favoring cooperation. Tan, who had also previously served as South Korean Ambassador to the United States, said the conservative politicians recognize that “the U.S.’ commitment to defend South …