Prime Minister Disqualification Theory vs. Korean-style Trump, Intensifying 'Competence Debate' Between This Side and That Side

"No President from Prime Ministers Since the 87 Direct Election"
"Labeled with Contempt Like a Korean-Style Trump"

Democratic Party presidential primary candidates Rep. Lee Nak-yeon and Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung attended the 20th presidential candidate 'One Team' agreement ceremony held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 28th. After the event, they exchanged greetings. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The ‘competence debate’ between Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, and Lee Nak-yeon, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is becoming increasingly intense. Although the long-standing regionalism disputes have subsided, negative campaigns that belittle each other’s achievements and records continue.

On the 2nd, Kim Young-jin, a Democratic Party lawmaker and head of Lee Jae-myung’s campaign situation room, appeared on BBS’s ‘Morning Journal’ and said, "Since the direct election system was introduced in 1987, there has been no case of a prime minister becoming president," adding, "This proves that the roles and nature of the prime minister and president are different." In response to the criticism that former leader Lee’s performance was poor, which was interpreted as a criticism of President Moon, Kim rebutted, "The leadership qualities of the prime minister and the president are qualitatively different."

Park Chan-dae, senior spokesperson for Lee Jae-myung’s campaign, claimed that Lee’s ‘pledge fulfillment evaluation’ in his third year in office (as of the end of 2019) was rated SA, whereas former leader Lee’s ‘pledge fulfillment evaluation’ in his third year as governor of Jeollanam-do (as of the end of 2015) was rated B, the lowest grade. Park sharpened his criticism, saying, "To shed the stigma of being a Lee Nak-yeon camp that only engages in negative campaigning without policies, it would be better to promote a policy brand."

Lee Nak-yeon’s camp also launched a counterattack. Lee Byung-hoon, deputy general director of Lee Nak-yeon’s campaign, raised the offensive level on Facebook that day, saying to Lee Jae-myung, "Do you want to become a Korean-style Trump?" and "Trump enjoyed attacking his political opponents by attaching contemptuous labels to them." Lee criticized, "Candidate Lee Jae-myung wants to define candidate Lee Nak-yeon as ‘someone who supported impeachment’ and ‘an incompetent person.’ He does not listen even when the truth is told, and he is not interested in rebuttal evidence. Donald Trump did that. Trump enjoyed attacking his political opponents by attaching contemptuous labels to them."

Yoon Young-chan, political affairs director of Lee Nak-yeon’s camp, also dismissed Lee Jae-myung’s claim about the pledge fulfillment rate as "baseless," saying, "It is suspicious whether the overall reality and the externally visible content have been distorted and manipulated." Yoon criticized, "If manipulated achievements continue, he might even be called a manipulated candidate." It is expected that the two candidates will engage in overt tension again at the second round of the Democratic Party presidential primary debate scheduled for the 4th.