Why Minor Candidates Are Pushing to Secure 'TV Debates' by Postponing Lunar New Year Schedule...

Ahn Cheol-soo and Sim Sang-jung: "Bilateral Debate Is an Evasive Debate"
Focus on Bilateral Debate, Multilateral Debate Loses Its Significance

Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, and Sim Sang-jung, the presidential candidate of the Justice Party [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] As the 'Lunar New Year holiday TV debate' emerges as a key issue in the presidential race, minor candidates are focusing on blocking the one-on-one debate between Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate. They argue that holding a one-on-one debate before the multi-candidate debate among the four candidates is a 'loophole' and could be disadvantageous to other candidates.

Ahn Cheol-soo, the People’s Party presidential candidate, held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly on the 30th, declaring, "We condemn the unfair collusive one-on-one debate between the two entrenched party candidates and will begin an overnight sit-in protest." He named the one-on-one debate being negotiated by the two candidates as a 'loophole one-on-one debate,' stating, "Since the court has already pointed out the unfairness of the collusive one-on-one debate and ordered its suspension, the candidates should immediately stop and apologize to the public as a basic courtesy to the people."

Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, also held an emergency presidential strategy committee meeting that day, criticizing, "If the two parties collude, laws become useless, the Election Commission is unnecessary, and they can do everything according to their own tastes ? this is arrogant hegemonic politics." She urged, "Stop colluding behind the scenes and come up to the fair ring where the public can watch." She added, "We will take action to condemn and block this unfairness."

Meanwhile, Heo Kyung-young, the National Revolutionary Party presidential candidate, who is not included among the four-party debate participants, also joined the 'debate controversy.' He announced plans to submit a request to the Western District Court on the 3rd of next month to ban the multi-candidate debate broadcast. Earlier, on the 28th, Heo filed a provisional injunction with the court to ban the four-party debate broadcast by the three major terrestrial broadcasters, arguing, "It is not an official debate, and all media outlets are colluding to exclude me from opinion polls," and "The only way to make myself known is by phone."

With about 40 days left until the presidential election, the Lunar New Year holiday is a 'golden chance' to secure public support. Typically, presidential candidates have actively campaigned both online and offline to increase contact with citizens. However, as the TV debate has become a contentious issue, candidates are minimizing their schedules and focusing on delivering 'debate messages.'

In particular, minor candidates appear concerned that if a one-on-one debate between the two candidates is held during the Lunar New Year holiday before the multi-candidate debate scheduled for the 3rd of next month, it will not only attract national attention but also diminish the significance of the multi-candidate debate. However, the People Power Party claims that public interest naturally lies with the candidates of the two major parties. Seong Il-jong, the head of the People Power Party’s TV debate negotiation team, told reporters on the 28th, "The national leader will come from among the candidates of the two parties (Candidate Lee and Candidate Yoon)." He emphasized, "Based on all current data and conditions, that is the case, so perhaps the public wants a one-on-one debate."

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