[Exclusive] Democratic Party Abruptly Cancels Final Presidential Primary Debate on 8th Before Broadcast by Three Major TV Networks

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The Democratic Party of Korea abruptly canceled the TV debate scheduled to be held by the three major broadcasters on the 8th. Originally, the Democratic Party had planned to hold the final TV debate ahead of the Gyeonggi regional primary on the 9th and the Seoul regional primary on the 10th, but the party's election management committee, which had been preparing the TV debate, decided to cancel it suddenly. Accordingly, the TV debate hosted by OBS on the 5th is expected to be the last debate of the Democratic Party's presidential primary. Some speculate that the party felt burdened by the 'Daejang-dong scandal' surrounding Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, who is leading the Democratic Party's presidential primary.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Democratic Party on the 5th, the party's election management committee decided this morning to abruptly cancel the TV debate scheduled for the 8th by the three major broadcasters.

A Democratic Party official said, "Originally, a joint TV debate with KBS, MBC, and SBS was scheduled, but this morning it was decided to cancel it."

The canceled debate was intended to inform about each candidate's pledges and policy announcements to approximately 610,000 national and party members ahead of the Democratic Party's final regional primaries (Gyeonggi and Seoul) and the third electoral college vote. Until now, Democratic presidential candidates have held TV debates in each region before the local primaries to discuss policies. This TV debate by the three major broadcasters was to be held ahead of the Seoul regional primary and was meant to conclude the total of 13 Democratic Party primary debates held so far, but with today's cancellation, the OBS-hosted TV debate is expected to be the final debate.

Within the party, there are reactions of being 'disconcerted' by this unilateral cancellation decision.

A Democratic Party insider said, "There is regret that the party's decision to cancel the three major broadcasters' TV debate might have been made in a way that favors a particular candidate."