[Exclusive] Lee Jae-myung and Yoon Seok-yeol Debate Face-off Cancelled Again

COVID-19 Small Business and Self-Employed Victims Group Solidarity
Lee and Yoon Request Debate, No Response from Yoon... Only Lee Attends
"50 Trillion and 100 Trillion Compensation Are Just Words
Follow-up Discussions on COVID Measures Needed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The one-on-one debate between candidates Lee Jae-myung and Yoon Seok-youl has once again fallen through.

The discussion scheduled for the 20th, hosted by the "COVID-19 Small Business and Self-Employed Damage Group Solidarity," will proceed as a solo debate with Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, after Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, declined to participate. Previously, the "Broadcast Journalists Club Debate" held on the 2nd of last month was also intended as a one-on-one debate, but Yoon's absence turned it into a solo interview with Lee.

Kim Jong-min, Secretary-General of the "COVID-19 Small Business and Self-Employed Damage Group Solidarity (Self-Employed Solidarity)," the event organizer, told this outlet in a phone interview, "We extended invitations equally to both candidates Lee and Yoon, but only Yoon's side did not respond or confirm attendance," adding, "We confirmed his absence through his schedule announced in the media earlier that day. We plan to request a separate debate later." Yoon is scheduled to visit an army base in Cheorwon County, Gangwon Province that day.

The Self-Employed Solidarity stated that since Yoon mentioned a "50 trillion won scale compensation" for small business owners and self-employed people, and Kim Jong-in, the People Power Party's general election campaign committee chairman, proposed doubling that to "100 trillion won support," further discussions and debates on the methods and funding are necessary. Secretary-General Kim added, "It's not just about the amounts like 50 trillion or 100 trillion won; there needs to be concrete discussions on how the compensation will be implemented, and presidential candidates must listen to voices from the field."

Meanwhile, before attending the debate at 2 p.m. that day, candidate Lee plans to announce small business and self-employed policy pledges at the Democratic Party headquarters. These are expected to include pre-compensation for damages caused by strengthened COVID-19 quarantine measures, relief of rental burdens, and protection of franchise stores. Lee has previously proposed starting bipartisan talks by accepting Yoon's pledge of "50 trillion won support for small business owners."

The "COVID-19 Small Business and Self-Employed Victims' Solidarity" delivered an official invitation letter for a presidential candidate briefing titled "100 Trillion Won Supplementary Budget for Self-Employed COVID-19 Damage Support" to a People Power Party official in front of the People Power Party headquarters on the 14th (Source: COVID-19 Small Business and Self-Employed Victims' Solidarity).

The "COVID-19 Small Business and Self-Employed Victims' Solidarity" delivered an official invitation letter for a "100 Trillion Won Supplementary Budget for Self-Employed COVID-19 Damage Support" presidential candidate roundtable to a Democratic Party official in front of the Democratic Party headquarters on the 14th (Source: COVID-19 Small Business and Self-Employed Victims' Solidarity).

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