"Even When Asked to Debate"... The Third Zone Frustrated by Ruling and Opposition Parties' Non-Response

Third zone general election candidates are struggling to rebound in approval ratings due to the major two parties' lack of response. The candidates from the two major parties are minimizing direct confrontations with third zone candidates, who have a large gap in approval ratings, in order to avoid giving them any opportunity to become an issue. Third zone candidates expressed dissatisfaction, saying that even the chance to introduce themselves to voters is being blocked by candidates from the two major parties.

According to political circles on the 25th, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party running in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi Province, continued to criticize Gong Young-woon, the Democratic Party candidate. It was pointed out that Candidate Gong is deliberately avoiding policy debates between candidates by not attending public TV debates. Lee said, "The three-candidate TV debate in Hwaseong, which was scheduled to be held on YTN, was canceled due to Candidate Gong's sudden withdrawal, and the three-candidate debate on CBS Radio scheduled for the 27th was postponed to the 2nd of next month at Candidate Gong's request."

In response, Candidate Gong explained, "If I attend all the debates hosted by broadcasting stations, the time to meet residents of the Dongtan area will be reduced accordingly," adding, "I will properly present my pledges and vision for the development of Dongtan at the election commission-hosted broadcast debate on the 28th."

Gong Yeong-un, Democratic Party candidate; Han Jeong-min, People Power Party candidate; Lee Jun-seok, Reform New Party representative

Heo Eun-ah, the candidate for Yeongdeungpo-gap from the same party, is in a similar situation. The schedule was canceled after Kim Young-joo, the People Power Party candidate, refused to participate in a three-candidate interview in the same district. With approval ratings in the 5% range, Candidate Heo lost the opportunity to promote her policy pledges. She raised her voice, saying, "The opportunity for citizens to compare candidates was deprived."

Sim Sang-jung, the Green Justice Party candidate running for the fifth term in Goyang-gap, Gyeonggi Province, also continued her criticism of the recent cancellation of media debates. This followed the consecutive announcements of debate absences by Han Chang-seop, the People Power Party candidate, and Kim Seong-hoe, the Democratic Party candidate, both running in Goyang-gap. Candidate Sim pointed out, "Refusing debates is simply an attitude that ignores local residents, relying only on the party name and party approval ratings."

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