Candidates dismiss Lee Jae-myung’s AI promises as 'empty numbers'
The second group of the conservative People Power Party’s eight candidates vying for the party’s presidential nomination continued a war of words over the legality of former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law during a televised debate Sunday.
Former party leader Han Dong-hoon argued that Yoon's declaration of martial law was "illegal," despite being a decision by "the president from our party."
"I took the lead to block it and I put our people first," Han said.
Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, who was the party's unsuccessful candidate in 2017 and lost the party's nomination to the eventually elected Yoon Suk Yeol in 2021, opposed Han.
"There were no practical damages following the martial law. It took less than two hours for the National Assembly to lift the declaration," Hong said, adding that Yoon should have been given the chance to step down on his own, instead of going through impeachment.
Regarding a social media post that North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Cheol-woo uploaded in March, which stated that Yoon's martial law declaration was legitimate, Lee maintained his stance, arguing that the impeachment was conducted too hastily.
Yoon's martial law imposition was a way for the former president to gain authority at that time, Lee added.
Rep. Na Kyung-won, a five-term lawmaker and a former floor leader for the conservative party, addressed the issue as unnecessary for discussion during the presidential nomination debate, but criticized Han for leading the instigation of framing Yoon as an insurrection ringleader.
"It's Han who made this chaos. It's regrettable that Han led the instigation, saying that Yoon has admitted his insurrection," she said.
Candidates also exchanged views on South Korea’s foreign policy and national defense, with several proposing structural changes to better position the country amid intensifying global competition.
Rep. Na addressed the low birth rate as an issue that should be dealt with by a comprehensive policy, suggesting 200 million won ($140,000) loans for newlyweds at a 1 percent interest rate, scrapping the interest for couples who have a child, and even gradually forgiving the principal amount owed, to be zero for couples who have four children.
Hong also proposed to overhaul of the South Korean military command by elevating the Marine Corps' special forces to counter North Korea’s elite Unit 8 and establishing a national space command to secure superiority in space-based defense.
Former Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon took a more diplomatic approach, positioning himself as a skilled negotiator on the world stage.
“South Korea holds an important card. For the (US President Donald) Trump administration, they need to cooperate with us in the shipbuilding industry in order to keep their naval power, besides China. South Korea should negotiate with Trump with these advantages and take a practical approach,” Han suggested.
“Think about who fits the most on that international stage. I served as a prosecutor in Korea, but I’m also a New York state bar practitioner,” Han appealed.
Na pushed back on Han’s emphasis on credentials, stressing that diplomatic effectiveness stems from deep experience.
“Politics isn’t about resumes. Diplomacy requires seasoned understanding and strong networks,” she said. “I’ve served as a special envoy to Davos, where real conversations start with ‘Let’s meet again.’ That experience matters when it comes to protecting South Korea’s national interests.”
A day earlier, the other four candidates shared their vision and election pledges for South Korea's youth in a televised debate, where they also criticized the AI-related election pledges of the main opposition bloc leader, Lee Jae-myung.
Rep. Yang Hyang-ja of the People Power Party, a former Samsung Electronics veteran, referred to the liberal Democratic Party as a faction “weak on the economy and high-tech industries.”
“In one of Lee’s political pledges, he says he would offer a Korean version of ChatGPT to everyone in the country. Why would he make a new one when there's a free version? And I have no idea what he means by ‘create an AI-based society by investing 100 trillion won,’” said Yang.
Yang, stressing her experience in passing a bill to support companies in the semiconductor industry with tax-free benefits and regulations, said she doubts whether the Democratic Party would accept such a 100 trillion won investment if it were in semiconductors, calling the party "strongly antibusiness."
“Lee’s pledges are just an empty can. It should be shredded,” Yang said, as she tore up a piece of paper listing Lee’s election pledges.
Other contenders echoed her view.
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, a former software entrepreneur, called Lee’s pledge “a sweet lie,” claiming he is the leader truly prepared with a deep understanding of the AI-driven future economy. Ahn emphasized his expertise across the full spectrum of AI-related policy — from software and hardware to workforce development and content.
Ahn, responding to comments by candidate Kim Moon-soo, a former minister of employment and labor, asked what areas Kim would specifically invest in based on his AI-related pledges.
“In terms of securing AI-related infrastructure and investing in startups, I would specifically invest in AI-related departments at schools and in venture firms. I’d like to bring experts and figures like you to chair committees and form a system to make strategic investments,” Kim told Ahn.
Meanwhile, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok said the best form of welfare for young people is creating jobs for them.
His election pledges include investing in high-tech industries such as AI, autonomous driving, 5G telecommunications and the internet of things, as well as nurturing young, global CEOs and supporting 100,000 young adults working overseas over the next five years.
Kim, regarding his youth-focused pledges, said he would leverage his experience as labor minister to transform the current national pension system in a way that provides relief to those working at companies without guaranteed retirement benefits.
Ahn proposed dividing the Ministry of Health and Welfare into two separate parts — a health division combined with the disease control and prevention authorities, and a welfare division with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, ultimately combining the latter with a proposed ministry for youth.
Yang, citing government data showing employees at large conglomerates have a birth rate 1.5 times higher than those who work at small and medium-sized enterprises, mainly due to higher incomes and access to parental leave, said she would support Korean businesses to nurture five Samsung-tier conglomerates, each with assets worth 100 trillion won, so that young people can find jobs.
The eight People Power Party candidates will subsequently go through a public vote on Monday and Tuesday to select four candidates to advance to the primary's next round.
ddd@heraldcorp.com
