Candidate spouses take centre stage in South Korea's heated presidential race
Last week, Seol Nan-young even took her unusually vocal criticism onto Saturday Night Live Korea, joking about scandals dogging the wife of her husband's chief rival and promoting a clean family image for her spouse, conservative People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo.
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Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Eminem wanted Mariah Carey to play his mother in '8 Mile'
Rapper Eminem , who essayed the lead in '8 Mile', had a different plan for his family set-up in the film, largely different from the final outcome. Music producer Damion "Damizza" Young recently claimed the 'Spacebound' rapper, 52, wanted Carey, 56, to play his mother in 8 Mile, despite the five-time Grammy winner being just four years his senior, reports 'People' magazine. Young, who first worked with Carey when he produced her 1998 single "I Still Believe" featuring Krayzie Bone and Da Brat, made the revelation on the latest episode of the 'TFU Podcast'. He said he's responsible for introducing the 'Obsessed' singer and Eminem. According to the industry veteran, Carey had recently released 'Heartbreaker' with JAY-Z and was doing great in her career, but expressed that she was now interested in taking on a movie role. As per 'People', Young said he was in the process of advising her against signing on to do Glitter, since it was an independent film, when he got a call from Eminem's camp with the '8 Mile' offer, which he also didn't necessarily approve of. Referring to the opportunity as Carey's "Achilles' heel", Young felt he was at a crossroads. "'If I don't say something and then it comes another route in the business or something, then I'm the bad guy'", he said of his thought process, and the reason he ultimately made the introduction between the two stars. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Transform Your Child's Confidence with Our Public Speaking Program Planet Spark Book Now Undo "So I go to Mariah, and I'm like, 'Look, Eminem wants to meet you', and she's like, 'No'", he said of his first attempt. However, once Young told her it was for a movie, she allegedly asked for the rapper's number. Young claimed he pleaded with Eminem, saying, "'Don't do this. I know where you're going with this'", making mention of his history with Christina Aguilera. "I'm managing this girl, and it's gonna cause me a problem", he warned. Eminem allegedly replied, "'No, I genuinely want her in the movie'", the music producer recalled. With all three finally on a call to discuss the role, Young said Carey was told, "'I want you to play my mother'. She did not like that s***at all", Young said. "Her insecurities kicked in big time". Academy Award winner Kim Basinger , now 71, was ultimately cast in the role. --IANS aa/
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First Post
a day ago
- First Post
South Korea has got a new president, but the challenges remain
Despite Lee Jae-myung's election as president of South Korea, the challenge of healing the national divide and kick-starting growth in Asia's fourth-largest economy remains read more South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung takes his oath during his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul on June 4. Reuters Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is the new occupant of Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential palace in Seoul, also known as the Blue House. He won the snap presidential election on June 3. Lee succeeds Yoon Suk-yeol, the now-disgraced former president from the conservative People Power Party (PPP), whose short-lived declaration of martial law in December led to his impeachment and unanimous removal from office by the Constitutional Court. With Lee's election, the chaos, confusion, and confrontation that have defined the past six months in South Korea has supposedly ended. But has it really? I'll answer that shortly. Key Issues in the Election The presidential election wasn't due until 2027 and wouldn't have happened this early under normal circumstances. But that changed on the night of December 3, 2024, when former President Yoon shocked the nation by declaring martial law. The move triggered mass protests, and on December 14, parliament voted to impeach him. Under the South Korean Constitution, a snap election must be held within 60 days of the Constitutional Court upholding the impeachment and formally removing the president. Given this backdrop, Yoon's failed martial law bid became the defining issue of the election, pushing all others to the sidelines. Lee campaigned on promises to strengthen democracy and heal a divided nation. He also vowed to prosecute those involved in Yoon's martial law attempt and implement stricter limits on a president's ability to declare such powers. However, other pressing issues remain for Lee to address, without the typical two-month honeymoon period usually granted to South Korean presidents. These include a faltering economy, spiraling prices, the unpredictable trade policies of Donald Trump, worsening ties with North Korea, and the delicate balancing act between China—South Korea's biggest trading partner—and the US, its key strategic ally. A Foregone Conclusion Because the election was framed from the start by the failed martial law, the People Power Party was on the defensive. The result, therefore, felt like a foregone conclusion. Unsurprisingly, it unfolded along expected lines. Lee Jae-myung of the DPK was elected the 21st President of the Republic of Korea, defeating Kim Moon-soo of the ruling PPP. Here's what happened: According to the National Election Commission (NEC), 79.4 per cent of the country's 44.4 million eligible voters cast their ballots—the highest turnout since the 1997 presidential election. Lee Jae-myung secured 49.4 per cent of the vote. Kim Moon-soo of the PPP came second with 41.2 percent. Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party, a PPP splinter group, received 8.3 percent. Kwon Young-guk of the hastily formed Democratic Labor Party trailed far behind with 1 percent. Strongest in Decades When Lee lost the 2022 presidential election to Yoon Suk-yeol by the narrowest margin in South Korea's democratic history (47.83 per cent to 48.56 per cent), many declared his political career over. But just a year later, in the 2024 legislative elections, he led his party to a resounding victory, securing 173 seats—a two-thirds majority. When Yoon declared martial law on December 3, Lee seized the moment. He stormed the National Assembly in a dramatic late-night session to pass a resolution opposing the declaration, forcing Yoon to reverse his decision within hours. Lee's popularity surged, and, as widely expected, the 61-year-old was swiftly inaugurated on Wednesday, June 3. In a rare occurrence, Lee and his party now control both the presidency and parliament. This dual control makes him one of the most powerful presidents in South Korea's democratic history. It could prove to be a double-edged sword—more on that later. For now, a unified government offers Lee an opportunity to govern assertively until the next legislative election in 2028. He won't need many conservative votes to advance his agenda, while the conservative party itself is mired in internal crisis. The Reality Bites Lee's victory might have seemed inevitable given the conservatives' disarray. The PPP was so divided it struggled to even nominate a candidate before settling on Kim, a former leftist turned far-right firebrand. Given these dynamics, the PPP should have suffered a crushing defeat. But it didn't. And that's the sobering reality. South Korea remains politically fractured, and the post-election crisis is as serious as it was before—if not more so. Fragile Victory Despite an 8-point margin, Lee's victory is more fragile than it first appears. Here's a closer look: If Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok (8.3 per cent of the vote) had not run, the gap between Lee and the PPP would have been much narrower. Excluding two southwestern provinces—DPK strongholds where Lee won over 80 per cent—his lead over the PPP was just 26,000 votes out of nearly 35 million cast. In Seoul, the nation's capital and economic hub, the combined conservative vote exceeded Lee's by 0.5 percent. Rise of the Far Right The right-wing, and especially the far-right, remains a potent force. In conservative heartlands, their support has only grown. The two conservative candidates—Kim (41.15 per cent) and Lee Jun-seok (8.34 per cent)—together garnered more votes than Lee Jae-myung (49.42 per cent). Exit polls show far-right appeal is especially strong among young men. Three-quarters of men in their twenties voted for the two far-right candidates, compared to just over 58 per cent of women in that age group who supported Lee. In the 30s age bracket, around 60 per cent of men voted conservative, while 57 per cent of women voted for Lee. 2017 vs 2025 This isn't South Korea's first post-impeachment snap election. In 2017, following the impeachment of conservative President Park Geun-hye, liberal Moon Jae-in won. History repeated in 2025. Another conservative president was impeached, and another liberal won. But 2017 didn't mark the end of conservatism in South Korea. The same could be true in 2025—if conservatives are willing to reform and rebuild. Decoding Lee Jae-myung If there's one word that defines Lee Jae-myung, it's 'survivor'. He's endured extreme poverty, two suicide attempts, a near-fatal assassination, numerous criminal charges, and the martial law crisis. Now comes his toughest test: leading a deeply divided nation through a host of internal and external challenges. Lee, largely unknown outside South Korea, rose from hardship. According to his memoirs, he was the fifth of seven children in a dirt-poor family. Forced to leave school at 14, he worked in factories, suffering a workplace injury that left his left arm impaired. In 1982, he gained university admission on a full merit scholarship and later passed the notoriously difficult bar exam to become a lawyer. His rags-to-riches story resonates in a country that went from war-torn poverty to economic powerhouse in one generation. Boon or Bane Lee has cultivated an image as a pragmatic reformer focused on economic inequality. His journey from child laborer to lawyer to political leader is inspiring to many. But he's also polarising. Though he maintains his innocence, he faces multiple criminal charges, including bribery and election violations. He's seen by critics as a radical populist with little respect for democratic norms or institutional checks. Whether he becomes a reformist statesman like Kim Dae-jung—or another strongman—depends on his choices in the months ahead. Challenges Ahead Despite the peaceful conduct of this snap election, South Korea faces a long list of pressing issues: Domestically: Deep political and societal polarisation A slipping economy, with a 0.3 per cent contraction in quarter 1 and possible recession in quarter 2 Skyrocketing consumer prices One of the world's lowest birthrates and a rapidly ageing population An urgent need for institutional reform, including a proposed shift to a four-year presidential term with re-election Externally: Navigating between China (biggest trading partner) and the US (strategic ally) Restarting dialogue with North Korea after three years of deteriorating ties Coping with US President Donald Trump's unpredictable trade policies Managing the North Korea–Russia military partnership Most urgent of all: healing the national divide and kick-starting growth in Asia's fourth-largest economy. And What If… As the celebration fades, Lee faces a sobering reality. He is still on trial in the Supreme Court for election law violations. The trial was postponed to avoid influencing the vote. A conviction could have disqualified him from running. Now that he's president, the law states he cannot be prosecuted for criminal offenses—except for treason or insurrection. But it's unclear what happens if he's found guilty. That uncertainty may hang over his presidency for months to come. The author is a multi-disciplinary thought leader with Action Bias and an India based impact consultant. He is a keen watcher of changing national and international scenarios. He works as President Advisory Services of Consulting Company BARSYL. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.
News18
a day ago
- News18
From Silenced To The Attorney: 10 Korean Movies Based On Real-Life Events
Last Updated: Miracle in Cell No. 7 follows the true incident of a man being falsely accused of the murder of a child before being exonerated in 2008. Korean film industry is popularly known for drawing inspiration from real-life events. Whether it is historical injustice, political unrest, or personal tragedy, Korean filmmakers master the skill of taking a real-life event and turning it into cinematic excellence. By capturing real-life incidents, these filmmakers provide a scope for the audience to resonate with the stories on a personal as well as emotional level. Here are the top 10 Korean films that are based on true events: This film is based on the true events recounted in Gong Ji-young's novel The Crucible, which sheds light on the horrific incident at Gwangju Inhwa School for Deaf students as they endure inhuman sexual abuse. After the release, the film led to the legal reforms in the country, including the abolishment of the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against minors and the disabled. 2. A Taxi Driver Based on the real-life interaction between a German journalist named Jurgen Hinzpeter and a Korean taxi driver, this film revolves around the Gwangju uprising in 1980 through the eyes of an ordinary Korean citizen. of Murder This film is based on the spine-chilling murders carried out by the Hwaseong Murderer between 1986 and 1994, when he killed a total of 15 women and girls, alongside committing multiple sexual assaults in the region of Hwaseong. Last Princess This historical film revisits the tragedy of Princess Deokhye, the last princess of the Joseon Dynasty, who was forced into exile at the time of Japanese occupation. The movie showcases Princess Deokhye's struggle with mental illness, loneliness, and her erasure from Korean history. Chaser Inspired by the real-life incident of Yoo Young-chul, this film follows the series of murders he committed in the early 2000s. The film also highlights a detective-turned-pimp chasing the killer who preys on women. 6.7:1 Into The Fire This historical war drama revisits the story of the Korean War, when 71 undertrained and unarmed South Korean student volunteer soldiers defended the Pohang Girls' Middle School against a North Korean battalion. In Cell No. 7 The film follows the true incident of a man being falsely accused of the rape and murder of a child before being exonerated in 2008. The film focuses on the mentally challenged man's life in prison and how he forms friendships while being locked up in a cell. This film takes inspiration from the infamous Cho Doo-soon case, where an 8-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 57-year-old man in a public bathroom. The film follows the family's psychological and emotional struggle in the aftermath of this horrific incident. 18 Named after the starting date of the Gwangju uprising, the film provides a faithful depiction of the massacre of South Korean civilians by government forces and pays tribute to Gwangju citizens for their courage. 10. The Attorney This film is loosely based on the legal career of former South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun and follows the Burim case, where 22 students, teachers, and workers were arrested on fabricated charges under the National Security Law. First Published: June 11, 2025, 12:49 IST
