Ahn Cheol-soo and Geum Tae-seop's 'TV Debate' Tangled Like a Gordian Knot... Crisis Facing the Third Zone

Both Sides' Working-Level Teams in Sharp Conflict Over Forum Media and Format

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The cancellation of the first TV debate schedule between Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, and former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, both candidates in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, has caused setbacks in efforts to unify the opposition for the third-party primary. The working-level negotiation teams on both sides have shown disagreements over the debate media and format, leading to a temporary halt in practical discussions.

Lee Tae-gyu, Secretary General of the People’s Party, said after the Supreme Council meeting on the morning of the 15th, “Our position is to hold the debate on a broadcasting station and with a debate format mutually agreed upon by both parties,” adding, “We agreed to allow a broadcast debate but requested that at least our debate method be respected. However, during the discussion process, we suddenly received a message as if it had been scheduled by a certain broadcasting station.”

On the other hand, Kim Tae-hyung, spokesperson and a member of former lawmaker Geum’s working team, told Asia Economy in a phone interview that “Ahn’s side is demanding to decide the broadcasting station and TV format they prefer, but we cannot accept that,” and “Even when we have painstakingly arranged other media outlets and proposed them, they have repeatedly rejected them.”

Currently, Ahn’s side claims that Geum’s side is refusing to engage in working-level negotiations. Kwon Eun-hee, floor leader of the People’s Party, appeared on YTN Radio’s ‘Hwang Bo-seon’s Start Morning’ on the morning of the same day and said, “We proposed to resume working-level negotiations yesterday, but Geum’s working-level negotiation team did not show up,” adding, “We plan to continue demanding working-level negotiations from Geum’s side.”

The working-level teams on both sides also showed differences regarding the legal interpretation notified by the National Election Commission that “there is only one opportunity for a debate in unified candidate negotiations.” Ahn’s working team said, “We received a call from the Election Commission informing us that under the Public Official Election Act, a unified primary can only be held once.” They added, “If there is only one debate opportunity, when should it be used? We said we would also listen to the People Power Party’s side, but Geum’s side pressured us to hold the debate immediately.”

In contrast, spokesperson Kim rebutted, “The Election Commission informed us that they issued a legal interpretation 20 years ago,” and said, “We can check with the Election Commission whether this old interpretation is still valid, and if it is, we think it is a matter that can be challenged.”

With the originally scheduled debate canceled, the remaining debate schedule and broadcasting media need to be urgently discussed, but practical negotiations are not currently taking place. On the previous day, the 14th, Ahn Hye-jin, spokesperson for the People’s Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly communication office and stated, “Since Geum’s side publicly hopes for a proper debate to be held as soon as possible, we urge them to immediately engage in the unified working-level discussions they are currently refusing.” In response, spokesperson Kim said, “There is no working-level negotiation scheduled for today,” and added, “We have requested Ahn’s side to prepare alternatives, and if alternatives are prepared, we are willing to meet at any time.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.