Candidates Lee, the frontrunner and his opponent Kim clash over the first of three TV discussions.
Two South Korean presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myeon and Kim Moon-Saw, served as the first of three television television debates as the race intensifies on behalf of former president Yuk Yeol, who was fired in April from his controversial move to declare martial law late last year.
Yun’s expulsion caused political turmoil at home, with a snap election set for June 3rd.
Who is Lee during the heated debate on Sunday? The leading opposition Democratic candidates and race fronts have faced criticism that South Korea is too friendly to China from his enemies, citing his comment that South Korea does not need to be involved in the conflict in China’s Thaiwan.
However, Lee, who sees pragmatism as the key to his foreign policy, called the country “should not all-in” alliances with traditional US allies and called for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
He said it is important to manage China-Russia relations and that security cooperation between the US and Japan is necessary.
Lee also advocated for US tariffs, increased investment in artificial intelligence (AI), protection of union workers, and the four and a half year labor week to put South Korea’s interests first.
Seoul didn’t have to hurry to reach a trade deal with Washington, Lee said during the two-hour discussion.
South Korea has launched trade talks with the United States and is calling for a waiver of the 25% tariffs that US President Donald Trump slapped the country in April.
“I think we need to prepare ourselves sensitively and competently for this situation,” Lee added, arguing that South Korea needs to develop a high-tech and renewable energy industry to overcome low economic growth.
“We will focus on developing sovereign AI, at least allowing us to use something like ChatGpt for free, like electronic calculators,” he said.
A conservative power party candidate, Kim vowed to submit to create jobs and promote business.
Kim has also committed to establishing government agencies dedicated to regulatory innovation, investing more than 5% of its budget in research and development.
In Asia, exports and consumption stagnated amid concerns over the effects of Washington’s aggressive tariffs and political turmoil at home, resulting in contracts in the first quarter.
Lee took the lead with 51% support in the latest Gallup South Korean poll released on Friday, with Kim being far behind 29%.
Earlier in the day for constitutional reform, Lee called for a two-term presidency for four years and a two-round system for presidential elections through a referendum. The South Korean president is currently serving a five-year term.
He also vowed to declare martial law and restrain the president’s right to hold to account for the person responsible for the Declaration on 3rd.
Former President Yoon had alleged that anti-state and North Korean troops had invaded the government when he declared martial law. However, senior forces and police officers sent to close the parliament testified that they had detained rival politicians and ordered them to prevent Congress from lifting his order of military control.
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