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Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
No win in sight, but minor candidates hang on
Minor presidential hopefuls including Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party and Song Jin-ho, an independent, are set to appear on the final ballot in Tuesday's election — despite polling in the low single digits and holding little prospect of victory. Kwon, an engineer-turned-human rights lawyer, is better known for his legal advocacy than for his political profile. Nicknamed the 'street lawyer,' he has represented victims in some of South Korea's most high-profile labor disputes and civil tragedies — including the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster, which killed over 300 people, most of them high school students. His campaign, backed by a coalition of progressive civic groups, centers on labor rights and corporate accountability. A recent Realmeter poll placed his support at 1.6 percent. Song, head of the Global Data Asset Cooperative, has focused his campaign on revitalizing the digital asset industry and advocating for the country's 15.6 million retail investors. In a May 19 televised debate for non-mainstream candidates, he challenged then-candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn over election fraud claims, anti-China rhetoric and calls to dismantle the National Election Commission — calling such proposals discriminatory and extreme. Song currently polls at 0.3 percent, according to the same Realmeter survey. Originally, seven candidates registered for the race. Koo Ju-hwa of the Liberty Unification Party withdrew before early voting began, and Hwang Kyo-ahn, also an independent, dropped out Sunday — both endorsing Kim in a bid to consolidate conservative support. Now, five remain: Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party; Kim Moon-soo of the major conservative People Power Party; Lee Jun-seok of the minor conservative New Reform Party; Kwon of the Democratic Labor Party; and Song, an independent. To appear on the ballot, each candidate must pay a 300 million won ($218,000) deposit. Those earning at least 15 percent of the vote are fully reimbursed for both the deposit and campaign expenses. Candidates receiving between 10 and 15 percent are eligible for a 50 percent refund.
Korea Herald
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Lee Jun-seok slammed for 'displaying misogyny' at debate
Democratic Party of Korea calls on 3rd party candidate to resign over televised remarks aimed at Lee Jae-myung New Reform Party presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok is facing resignation calls over his mention of what he said was online sexual harassment by a rival candidate's son during Tuesday's televised presidential debate. Halfway through the debate, Lee referred to online comments from three years back allegedly made by the son of Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung. The New Reform Party candidate's description of the comments included mentions of physical assault and women's body parts. Lee Jun-seok then asked his debate counterpart, Kwon Young-gook of the third Democratic Labor Party, if such remarks would be considered misogynistic based on his party's standards. Kwon declined to respond on the spot, and later clarified in a statement that he did not understand what he was being asked about. "Lee Jun-seok used a public platform like the presidential debate to deliver clearly misogynistic remarks. By quoting these remarks on air, without any filters, he is a perpetrator of misogyny himself," Kwon said. The Democratic Labor Party soon issued a statement urging Lee to resign for "exposing the South Korean public to verbal sexual harassment." On Wednesday, the Democratic Party of Korea held a series of press conferences calling on the New Reform Party to step down as a presidential candidate and exit the election race, accusing him of public display of misogyny. Following the uproar over his actions during the debate, the New Reform Party candidate told reporters Wednesday he "wouldn't know how to water down the comments." "I was merely quoting what was said (by Lee Jae-myung's son)," he said. He then apologized for making people uncomfortable, but he felt it was important that such behavior by a member of a presidential candidate's family be put under public scrutiny. Lee Jae-myung, without mentioning the New Reform Party candidate, said in a statement Wednesday that South Korean politics was being "bombarded with language of hatred." "As a presidential candidate, I am ashamed. This election should be about policies and visions for this country. Instead, it has turned into hateful and divisive rhetoric," the Democratic Party of Korea candidate said. The last time he ran for president in the 2022 race, also as the Democratic Party's candidate, Lee had apologized for his son's "imprudent behavior."
The Star
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
South Korean presidential candidates debate various issues in televised address
From left: South Korea's presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party, Kim Moon Soo of the People Power Party and Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party pose for photograph ahead of a 3rd televised presidential debate for the forthcoming June 3 presidential election at MBC studio on May 27, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. - Pool via AP SEOUL: The liberal Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate Representative Lee Jae-myung pledged to start a dialogue and map out cooperation between the two Koreas and achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula, reiterating his bid to deescalate border tensions if elected president. During a four-way televised debate aired on May 27, Lee said peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are 'very important', adding that dialogue, cooperation and peace are necessary on the Korean Peninsula, on the foundation of galvanised military strength, as well as the alliance between Seoul and Washington. Lee also blamed the former conservative Yoon Suk Yeol administration's hardline stance against North Korea for heightening border tensions between the two Koreas, saying the Yoon administration failed to take action to stop anti-North propaganda leaflet campaigns from the South. Lee added that he would 'resolve (border tensions) one by one'. Meanwhile, Lee's conservative rival, the People Power Party's candidate Kim Moon-soo, said he would work to strengthen South Korea's nuclear deterrence on the foundation of the Seoul-Washington alliance to counter North Korea's nuclear threats and missile provocations. 'We will create a South Korea that will not be shaken by any threat by achieving a balance of power,' said Kim. During the debate, Kim said there is a realistic plan to devise a unique nuclear sharing model with the United States, which his rival Lee said 'will make it impossible to achieve denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula'. Kim also said he would foster transparent inter-Korean relations and deal with North Korea confidently, while blasting his liberal rival for alleged involvement in an aide's unauthorised money transfer to North Korea while Lee was serving as governor of Gyeonggi Province. Lee of the Democratic Party was nine percentage points ahead in the race against Kim, according to a poll by Next Research on May 27. The debate on May 27 was the last of the three legally required to be hosted by the election authorities, with just one week remaining until the election to replace ousted former President Yoon. Alongside foreign policy, the televised debate also focused on political polarisation and ways to heal the political divide. Debating how they would overcome South Korea's deepening political polarisation, the three leading candidates each pointed to different root causes — offering divergent views on what fractured the country's democracy and how to repair it. The Democratic Party's Lee pointed to former president Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial martial law declaration on Dec 3 as the origin of the political breakdown, describing it as an attempt to erase the opposition. 'The essence of that martial law attempt was to annihilate the opposition and permanently monopolise power,' he said. Lee argued that the lingering presence of those who supported the emergency decree continues to polarise the country. During Tuesday's debate, Lee again proposed a broad constitutional amendment to limit presidential authority and reinforce checks and balances, including a two-term presidency and run-off elections. However, the People Power Party's Kim accused Lee of failing to acknowledge criminal wrongdoing, which he said threatens democracy, as well as allegations that his Democratic Party abused its legislative power to protect its leader. 'How can someone facing five serious charges run for president?' Kim said. 'He should stand trial and accept the outcome.' In response, Lee dismissed criticism of his legal troubles as political retaliation, claiming 'these indictments are fabricated by a prosecutorial regime'. Yoon served as prosecutor general of South Korea before he won the presidential election in 2022. Kim also rejected Lee's characterisation of the Dec 3 event as an insurrection, citing an ongoing criminal trial against the suspects involved in the failed martial law attempt. Meanwhile, New Reform Party candidate Representative Lee Jun-seok pointed to what he called 'false narratives and fan-driven politics' as the primary sources of polarisation, directly naming both Lee Jae-myung and Kim as figures associated with such narratives. He accused them of distorting facts and undermining public trust in the democratic process. Positioning himself as a political outsider, Lee said Korea's political norms had collapsed as major parties abandoned long-standing rules of bipartisan consensus. He pledged to restore procedural fairness in lawmaking and constitutional reform. Citing French President Emmanuel Macron, he added, 'we may only have three seats, but we can trigger structural change'. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Korea Herald
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
On Election Day, should deliveries stop? Delivery workers call for 'no parcel day' designation
As South Korea prepares for an early presidential election on June 3, labor groups and civic organizations are raising the alarm that thousands of parcel delivery workers may not be able to vote at all. In Korea, most delivery workers are not classified as employees, but as 'specially employed' contractors. That means they are excluded from protections under the Labor Standards Act, including the right to a paid holiday on Election Day. Although the government has designated June 3 as an official public holiday, that legal status only guarantees paid time off to workers formally recognized under the law, leaving out the vast number of people who deliver packages across the country every day. The Democratic Labor Party's presidential candidate, Kwon Yeong-guk, issued a statement on Wednesday calling for the government to designate June 3 as a 'no-delivery day.' He warned that failing to do so would violate basic rights. 'Delivery workers aren't just missing a day off. They're being denied a fundamental constitutional right -- the right to vote,' he said. The demand is backed by a coalition of labor and civic groups, including the National Union of Delivery Workers and People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy. At a press conference in Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square on Wednesday, they urged the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to step in and advise logistics companies to halt operations on Election Day. 'It's not an unreasonable request,' they said. 'Packages can wait a day. Democracy shouldn't have to.' Major logistics firms like Coupang CLS, CJ Logistics, Hanjin, and Lotte have not declared June 3 a day off, according to the labor union. That means many drivers are expected to work on Election Day, often without extra pay. The Korea Integrated Logistics Association has also not issued any guidelines. An official at one large logistics provider, speaking to The Korea Herald on condition of anonymity, said some of their subcontractors already offer four or five-day workweeks, and that 'drivers can go and vote if they make arrangements in advance.' But labor groups argue that such flexibility is not common, especially under pressure from expectations of deliveries seven days a week. Under Korean labor law, employers with five or more staff must provide paid time off for public holidays. But since most couriers are technically not employees, they are not covered. 'Leaving them out of the democratic process is not just bad policy,' Kwon said. 'It's institutional neglect.' For those unable to vote on June 3, South Korea's election watchdog has designated May 29 and 30 as early voting days. During this period, select polling stations will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Asahi Shimbun
19-05-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
South Korea's presidential candidates face off in fiery debate
South Korea's presidential candidates, Kim Moon Soo of the People Power Party, Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party, Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party and Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party pose for photograph ahead of a televised presidential debate for the forthcoming June 3 presidential election at SBS studio on May 18, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. (Pool via REUTERS) SEOUL--South Korea's presidential candidates faced off in a heated first TV debate on Sunday evening, ahead of a snap election on June 3 to choose a successor to former President Yoon Suk Yeol who was impeached over his short-lived martial law declaration in December. Lee Jae-myung, the main opposition Democratic Party's candidate and the frontrunner in the race, has faced criticism from opponents as being too friendly to China, citing his comments that South Korea does not need to get involved in China-Taiwan disputes. But Lee, who considers pragmatism as key to his foreign policy, said the country 'should not go all-in' on its alliance with Washington, and said managing China and Russia relations was important, although security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan is necessary. He also advocated more investment in artificial intelligence, protection for unionized workers, a 4-1/2-day working week, and putting South Korea's interests first in responding to U.S. tariffs. There was no need for Seoul to rush to reach a trade agreement with Washington, Lee said during the two-hour debate. 'I think we should prepare well for this situation delicately and competently,' Lee added, also arguing South Korea needs to nurture high-tech and renewable energy industries to overcome low economic growth. 'We will focus on developing so-called sovereign AI so our people can at least use something like ChatGPT for free like an electronic calculator,' he said. Kim Moon-soo, candidate for the conservative People Power Party, vowed to create jobs and deregulate to foster businesses. POLITICAL TURMOIL Asia's fourth-largest economy contracted in the first quarter as exports and consumption stalled, amid fears over the impact of Washington's aggressive tariffs and political turmoil at home. South Korea has begun trade talks with the United States and is seeking a waiver from the tariffs. U.S. President Donald Trump slapped 25% tariffs on South Korea in April, after which Seoul was one of the first countries to hold face-to-face talks with Washington, following in the footsteps of Japan. Lee has vowed to raise AI investment to 100 trillion won ($71.5 billion) and offer a production tax credit of up to 10% for semiconductors manufactured and sold domestically. Kim has pledged to create a government agency dedicated to innovating regulations and to invest more than 5% of the budget in research and development. Lee holds a lead with 51% support in the latest Gallup Korea poll released on Friday, with Kim trailing far behind at 29%. Former President Yoon was ousted last month over his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3, stoking political turmoil and triggering the election. Lee called earlier in the day for constitutional reform to allow a four-year, two-term presidency and a two-round system for presidential elections through a referendum. South Korean presidents currently serve a single five-year term. He also vowed to curb the presidential right to declare martial law and hold to account those responsible for the December 3 declaration. 'We must gather the people's strength to root (them) out and strictly hold (them) accountable,' he told a press briefing.
