Lee Jae-myung: "Yoon's side wants to debate only the Daejang-dong allegations? ... Still, I will accept it"

"An Unthinkable Matter" Yet "They Get It No Matter What"
"As a Politician, 100% Responsible for Failing to Recoup Development Gains"
"Attended the National Audit Because It Was Fully Possible to Explain"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, stated that he is willing to accept any topic if Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate, proposes a one-on-one debate. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, described the 'limited presidential candidate debate on the Daejang-dong scandal,' reportedly being considered by Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, as "an absurd matter," but also expressed willingness to accept it if Yoon actually proposes it.

In an interview with JTBC's 'Newsroom' on the 3rd, Lee said, "If the debate proposal is true, I am willing to accept it no matter what."

He added, "I wondered if the debate topic would be that unreasonable," and said, "Since it is an absurd matter, it is difficult for me to propose it, but if he (Yoon) sincerely makes a formal proposal, there is no reason to refuse."

Regarding the preferential development allegations in Daejang-dong, Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, he said, "(I) bear responsibility as a politician for not fully recovering 100% of the development profits from the Daejang-dong development. Even if it was due to obstruction by the People Power Party, I am responsible," emphasizing, "Because I can sufficiently explain those points, I voluntarily attended two days of the National Assembly audit that I did not have to attend."

Lee attended the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Gyeonggi Province held at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office on October 18 last year, when he was governor of Gyeonggi Province. At that time, he apologized by saying, "There is nothing to say even if I had a hundred mouths," regarding the arrest of Yoo Dong-gyu, former planning director of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation, but claimed, "Most of the substance of the Daejang-dong allegations has been revealed through the audit."

Candidate Yoon strongly criticized Candidate Lee as a "definitive major crime candidate" and refused to propose additional policy debates. The photo shows the two candidates attending the "2022 Stock Market Festival" held on the 3rd in front of the Korea Exchange headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, on the 31st of last month, according to multiple media reports, Yoon's side was reportedly considering proposing a one-on-one debate limited to the topic of the 'Daejang-dong scandal.'

In response, Lee met with reporters at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, and criticized, "We are supposed to verify how to run the country and whether we have the ability to do so based on the lives of the people, but is policy debate about only negativity aimed at blaming someone for a specific past issue?" and added, "I want to believe it is not so."

Meanwhile, Lee and Yoon have been in conflict over whether to hold additional policy debates. Earlier, on the 28th of last month, Lee proposed weekly policy debates in an MBC policy speech, saying, "I respectfully request Candidate Yoon to hold policy debates once a week so that the people can watch and judge." This was a proposal for additional debates beyond the minimum three mandatory debates required by the current Public Official Election Act.

However, Yoon drew a line, saying, "It is difficult to debate with a candidate accused of serious crimes." At a Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club debate held at the Broadcasting Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, Yoon criticized, "Is the Democratic Party candidate in a position to debate the country's vision with an opposition candidate?"

He strongly criticized Lee as a "candidate with confirmed serious crimes," and said, "It is difficult to accept a candidate with no room for excuse participating in debates beyond the prescribed level in front of the people. His attitude of trying to deflect his corruption and constantly changing policies is unacceptable."

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