Four candidates clash over how to address aging society, trade blows over political stances

Four leading candidates in the upcoming June 3 presidential election fiercely clashed over social issues in their second televised debate, Friday from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., discussing ways to overcome political conflicts within society, resolving energy issues and how to procure funding for the national health insurance and pension programs. Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party and Kwon Young-kook of the Democra

May 23, 2025

Kim, Lee Jun-seok align stance on energy, pension reform issues

People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo and New Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok on Friday offered similar views on energy policy plans and pension reform goals. During a televised debate that kicked-off at 8 p.m., Kim stressed the importance of further utilizing nuclear power as the country’s main source of energy. “Because the previous Moon Jae-in administration pushed policies focused on phase-out of nuclear power, the nuclear ecosystem here has collapsed,” Kim said. “This l

May 23, 2025

Top two candidates' debate over S. Korea’s social divide turns into blame game

The top two leading presidential candidates on Friday locked horns as they blamed each other and the actions by their parties as major reasons behind the country’s widening social divide. During a televised debate that kicked off at 8 p.m., Lee Jae-myung, the liberal Democratic Party of Korea’s candidate pointed to the failure to respect others, and attempting to merely “eliminate” them, as a main cause of the divide. He explained that such failure is reflected in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’

May 23, 2025

USFK dismisses troop downsizing report

The United States Forces Korea on Friday dismissed a report saying Washington is mulling the possibility of a partial withdrawal of the strong 28,500 troops stationed here. "The US remains firmly committed to the defense of the ROK and we look forward to working with the incoming government officials to maintain and strengthen our iron clad alliance," the USFK said in a statement. "Reports that the Department of Defense will reduce US troops in the Republic of Korea are not true.“ ROK is an abbr

May 23, 2025

Lee Jun-seok vows to continue to Election Day under his own name

New Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok announced Thursday that he plans to proceed to the June 3 presidential election under his own name and with his current party, further dampening prospects of a "merger" with People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo. "In this presidential election, I, Lee Jun-seok, together with the Reform Party, will fight to the end and win under our own name," Lee said at a press briefing at the National Assembly in the afternoon. "When you receive your ballot, you will

May 22, 2025

Spouses of candidates join campaign efforts

The spouses of the two leading presidential candidates have been more visible on the campaign trail in recent weeks compared to previous election cycles. At the same time, they have avoided moves that could overshadow the candidates themselves, despite a political atmosphere fueling their rivalry. On Wednesday, Kim Hye-kyung, the wife of liberal Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung, visited the port of Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, where the hull of the Sewol ferry remains docked. K

May 21, 2025

Debate over Gender Ministry reenters presidential campaign

The debate over abolishing the Gender Ministry has been reignited in this year’s presidential campaign in the pledges of top candidates. Last week, Lee Jun-seok, candidate for the minor conservative New Reform Party, revived his earlier pledge from the 2022 presidential election campaign to shutter the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family for good. He included the goal as part of his top policy pledges, saying the ministry’s responsibilities would be redistributed between the Ministry of Inter

May 20, 2025

Kim looks to Lee Jun-seok for merger as Election Day draws near

With Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung maintaining his strong lead in opinion polls, People Power Party's presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo appears to be courting the endorsement of his minor conservative rival. New Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok, meanwhile, has continued to rule out the possibility of a merger. "(Lee and I) share the same thoughts and same policies, but are currently separated because (the People Power Party) has made a wrong move," Kim told reporters fol

May 19, 2025

What Yoon's 'decision to leave' means for People Power Party

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol's departure from the People Power Party on Saturday is expected to boost the party's chances with moderate voters and win back longtime supporters who opposed the failed martial law bid. While some painted a rosy outlook for the party, critics expressed skepticism towards the move carried out less than three weeks before the June 3 presidential election, saying that the timing of the departure was "too late." People Power Party's chief spokesperson Shin Dong-wook l

May 18, 2025

Policy Watch: Kim Moon-soo vows to launch control tower for regulatory reform

People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo unveiled plans to launch a government agency dedicated to promoting and achieving regulatory reform. In his latest economic policy pledge, Kim said the agency would be responsible for unifying regulatory reform functions scattered across different government agencies. One percent of the annual government budget for research and development would be allocated for projects tied to regulatory reform. He also pledged to push for passage of a bil

May 18, 2025