"Yangja" vs "4ja" Clash Over Method Before Debate Even Starts... Increasing Voter Fatigue

Three-Party Candidates Say They Will Do a 'Four-Way'... Yoon Insists on a 'Two-Way' Alone
Ahn: "What Are You So Afraid Of?"... Sim: "I Won't Harm You, So Come Out"
"Debates Don't Greatly Affect Approval Ratings, Yoon Is Creating Unnecessary Controversy"

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (left), and Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party presidential candidate. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] On the 27th, the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party engaged in a tense standoff throughout the day over the schedule and format of the presidential candidate debates. When the court blocked the TV debate involving only the two leading candidates, the People Power Party proposed to the Democratic Party to hold a one-on-one debate on the 31st 'without TV broadcasting.'

The Democratic Party has expressed willingness to accept this, but candidates from other parties have strongly opposed it. It appears that the People Power Party judged that a four-party debate would put them at a disadvantage, but criticism is emerging that bypassing other party candidates blocks the public's right to know.

Earlier, on the 26th, the court granted a provisional injunction requested by Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, and Sim Sang-jung, the presidential candidate of the Justice Party, to prohibit the two-person TV debate against the three major terrestrial broadcasters, raising the possibility of a four-party TV debate during the Lunar New Year holiday. The three parties excluding the People Power Party expressed their hope to hold a four-party debate on the 31st. However, with the People Power Party rejecting this, the progress of the TV debate has become uncertain.

Meanwhile, the People Power Party counter-proposed to the Democratic Party to hold a one-on-one debate at the National Assembly or a third-party location without broadcasting by TV stations. Although the court blocked the two-person TV debate, they argue that holding a one-on-one debate without broadcaster involvement is acceptable.

Seong Il-jong, head of the People Power Party’s debate negotiation team, held a press conference and said, "We judge that holding a debate by mutual agreement between the two parties, not invited by broadcasters, is permissible," adding, "We will have detailed rule meetings through working-level talks with the Democratic Party." The insistence on a one-on-one debate by the People Power Party seems to be a strategic decision to prevent presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl, who is leading in the polls, from being targeted by concentrated attacks from the other three candidates.

Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party (left), and Sim Sang-jung, the presidential candidate of the Justice Party. Photo by Yonhap News

In response, the Democratic Party accepts the one-on-one debate on the 31st but insists that a four-party debate should also be held on the same day. However, the People Power Party maintains that the four-party debate is a separate issue, insisting on holding the one-on-one debate first on the 31st and then the four-party debate later. Seong said on CBS Radio’s 'One Round Match,' "If we follow the Democratic Party’s proposal, we would have to debate for at least four hours in one day, which is disrespectful to both the candidates and the public," and added, "Let's have the one-on-one debate first and then hold the four-party debate through further working-level consultations."

With both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party expressing willingness to hold the one-on-one debate on the 31st, the possibility of a Lunar New Year holiday one-on-one debate between Democratic candidate Lee Jae-myung and Yoon has increased. However, candidates Ahn and Sim are opposing it, calling it a 'desperate trick.'

On the 28th, Ahn said in an interview with BBS Radio’s 'Park Kyung-soo’s Morning Journal,' targeting Yoon, "I want to ask what fairness and common sense you have been shouting about so far, and what you are afraid of. The intention is to show only the two of you to the public through a one-on-one debate," adding, "If you skip the four-party debate, Yoon will inevitably receive very low evaluations from the public."

Sim also urged participation in the four-party debate through Facebook, saying, "Candidate Yoon Seok-youl, Sim Sang-jung does not bite. I will not harm you, so please do not run away with a desperate trick of a one-on-one debate. It’s okay to come out."

Although limited to TV debates, criticism is also emerging within the party against Yoon, who insists on a one-on-one debate despite the court’s disapproval. Lee Yong-ho, a People Power Party lawmaker, said, "Despite the court’s injunction that canceled the two-person TV debate, our party’s proposal to hold another one-on-one debate is not only groundless but also appears to be a petty proposal avoiding debate," and stated, "As a leading candidate for power, Yoon should confidently participate in any form of debate, and I believe that multi-party debates are more advantageous than one-on-one debates in terms of risk."

Professor Shin Yul of Myongji University’s Department of Political Science and Diplomacy pointed out, "Debates do not significantly affect approval ratings. It is more a matter of the public’s right to know than a matter of approval ratings, so it is hard to understand why the four-party debate is being rejected," adding, "I think there is no need to create unnecessary controversy by giving the impression of avoiding debates."