Lee, Yoon trade punches over economic policies

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sun, December 10, 2023 | 09:56

Politics

Lee, Yoon trade punches over economic policies

Posted : 2022-02-21 23:50

Updated : 2022-02-22 17:04

Presidential candidates pose for a photo before their TV debate at MBC in Seoul, Monday. From left are Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition People's Party, Sim Sang-jung of the minor opposition Justice Party and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party. Joint Press corps

By Kang Seung-woo

The two leading presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), did not mince words during the first of three TV debates hosted by the National Election Commission (NEC), Monday, taking swipes at each other's policies and pressing the opponent for answers to corruption scandals.

Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party and Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party also participated in the debate.

Two more debates are scheduled for Friday and March 2, while the war of words is expected to intensify as the March 9 election date approaches.

Citing a recently unveiled deposition regarding a large real estate development project in the Daejang-dong area of Seongnam south of Seoul, Lee attacked Yoon, saying two suspects involved in the venture mentioned Yoon in their conversations. One of them even hinted that he had information that could wreak havoc on the PPP candidate. But Yoon flatly denied the allegation, saying he never met any of them.

Lee has been accused of handing out business favors to Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management, a key investor in the development project, while serving as mayor of Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province from 2010 to 2018.

Yoon shot back, saying the suspects mentioned in the deposition were closer to Lee and that the document also referred to the land development scandal as "Lee Jae-myung gate."

They also clashed over the government's measures to combat COVID-19.

Yoon said Lee had acknowledged the Moon Jae-in administration's failure to effectively deal with the coronavirus pandemic, citing his remarks that the government's handling of COVID-19 infections will change completely should he be elected.

"Lee's remarks sound like he is representing an opposition party," Yoon said.

In response, Lee took a jab at Yoon, who has frequently found himself in hot water for failing to wear a mask during his public appearances.

"It is not right that one of the most uncooperative people is disparaging the government's quarantine measures," Lee said.

They also traded barbs over the passage of an extra budget bill to help the country ride out the pandemic.

"When there is a fire, you need to put it out quickly, rather than complaining about the size of the bucket," Lee criticized Yoon and the PPP for delaying approval of the bill.

But Yoon criticized the DPK for ramming the bill through a parliamentary committee.

"We told the DPK to persuade the government and send an extra budget of 50 trillion won, since it is the ruling party, but the government just came up with 14 trillion won," he said.

The two candidates also presented contrasting economic policy targets. Lee said he will focus on stimulating economic growth by addressing inequality, while Yoon pledged to foster a digital, data-based economy.

Korea's election law requires candidates to have at least three TV debates hosted by the NEC. Candidates who are eligible for TV debates are those from a party having more than five seats in the National Assembly, those from a party which secured more than 3 percent of support in previous elections or those who secured more than an average 5 percent support rate in surveys conducted one month before the start of official campaigning.

ksw@koreatimes.co.kr