日 NHK Highlights Lee Jae-myung in Series: "A Leading Presidential Candidate in Korea"

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Japan's public broadcaster NHK is drawing attention by repeatedly spotlighting Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, through special programming related to the South Korean presidential election, which is just one year away.

NHK particularly assessed that if Governor Lee Jae-myung is elected president, his 'strict' remarks about Japan could lead to more significant changes in Korea-Japan relations than at present.

NHK first aired a special program titled "One Year Until the South Korean Presidential Election" for about 11 minutes on the show "The World Now" on the 7th.

In the special broadcast, NHK reported that Governor Lee Jae-myung has been attracting attention as the "Trump of Korea" due to his sharp criticism of the Park Geun-hye administration and his radical remarks. It introduced Lee's statement that "The Park Geun-hye administration was a social evil that committed cheating, illegality, privilege, injustice, and corruption."

NHK also evaluated that the main reasons Lee Jae-myung is the most anticipated presidential candidate are his "easy-to-understand messages" and "decisiveness." As a representative example, they cited Lee's response to the novel coronavirus.

The broadcast further evaluated that Lee demonstrated his presence by twice providing 100,000 won disaster basic income to Gyeonggi residents and establishing facilities that offer free food and masks to residents struggling with financial difficulties.

It added that Lee is popular among young people by setting up employment counseling centers and supporting interview expenses to assist youth employment.

NHK also highlighted the contrasting views on Japan between Lee Jae-myung and Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.

The broadcast introduced that while Lee Jae-myung is notable for his strict remarks about Japan, Lee Nak-yeon is known as a "pro-Japan faction" due to his past experience staying in Japan (as a Dong-A Ilbo correspondent in Japan).

On the 9th, two days later, NHK again spotlighted Lee Jae-myung by airing programs such as "NHK SPOT LIGHT" and "Ohio Japan" under the theme "One Year Until the Korean Presidential Election, What Kind of Leader Do the Young Generation Want?"

NHK introduced that the person currently receiving high support in South Korea's next presidential election opinion polls is Lee Jae-myung, who served as governor in Gyeonggi Province near Seoul, and that he is regarded as Korea's "Bernie Sanders" due to his progressive stance on issues like reducing the wealth gap.

It added that Lee advocates for the introduction of "basic income," which guarantees a minimum income by providing a certain amount unconditionally, and that he has already been providing support funds to 24-year-old youths in Gyeonggi Province for two years.

The broadcast also noted that although Lee Jae-myung is gaining support from general voters, he is not considered a close aide of President Moon Jae-in within the ruling party, so it is still uncertain whether he will be selected as the ruling party's presidential candidate in the future.