Angry at the '1 AM' Debate, Heo Kyung-young Says, "We Also Paid 300 Million Won Exactly"

"Why Am I Being Sent to the Minor Candidate Debate?" Complaints Voiced

Huh Kyung-young, the presidential candidate of the National Revolutionary Party, strongly protests during the minor party TV debate / Photo by JTBC

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Heo Kyung-young, the presidential candidate of the National Revolutionary Party, strongly protested the debate time during the minor party TV debate held on the 22nd. The debate was broadcast at 11 p.m., and he criticized it as "unfair."

Candidate Heo expressed dissatisfaction during the minor party candidate debate hosted by the Central Election Broadcasting Debate Commission (Central Election Commission) that lasted about two hours from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. the next day.

He said, "I am someone who already reached 5.7%, 5.6% in approval ratings two months ago as a presidential preliminary candidate," and added, "How can a national constitutional institution arbitrarily decide whether to include or exclude private media opinion polls and then put me in the minor candidate debate?"

He continued, "I am truly ashamed to have run as a presidential candidate in a country like the Republic of Korea," calling it "the tyranny of the Central Election Commission."

He also took out a belt and a baton said to have been given by former President Park Chung-hee. He claimed, "Why would they have given me this? It means I have the ability to change the Republic of Korea."

He also took out and showed a belt and a baton that he claimed to have received from former President Park Chung-hee. / Photo by Internet Community Capture

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the broadcast time. He said, "Who debates at 1 a.m.? Don’t you even know sleeping hours?" and added, "What about the Labor Standards Act? Do they make workers work at 1 a.m.? Did the ruling and opposition candidates debate at 1 a.m.? We all paid the same 300 million won candidate deposit. So what is this? People can’t even sleep."

He criticized, "After the debate, you fall asleep at two or three in the morning and have to go out campaigning again the next morning."

Heo’s protests continued on social media (SNS).

On the 23rd, he wrote on his Facebook, "Broadcasting at 1 a.m. when only minor candidates are asleep is unfair. The people are not fools."

Meanwhile, the Central Election Commission requires presidential candidates from parties that do not meet the criteria of ▲5 or more seats ▲3% or more in general election vote share ▲5% or more in opinion polls to participate in the minor candidate debate.

The parties that meet these criteria are the Democratic Party of Korea, People Power Party, People’s Party, and Justice Party, whose presidential candidates are holding a four-party official debate.

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