[Inside Chodong]A Presidential Race in the Fog, Where Are the Policy Pledges?

Political Strife Intensifies Ahead of Presidential Election
Supreme Court Ruling Fuels Division
Election Law Amendment and Unification Disputes Add to Turmoil

"A novice fisherman fears the waves, but a seasoned fisherman fears the fog."

Recently, when asked about the outlook for the South Korean economy, a senior official at the Presidential Office sighed before responding. The official expressed honest fear and concern about which industries and strategies could be used to sustain growth, as the South Korean economy, which had been advancing on the strength of semiconductors and automobiles, now faces turbulence from a wave of U.S. tariffs.

In particular, the sense of crisis has been heightened by the last-minute suspension of the final contract for the construction of a new nuclear power plant in Dukovany, Czech Republic, which was expected to be South Korea's first overseas nuclear power plant export in 16 years. The local court accepted a request for an injunction filed by Electricite de France (EDF), a competitor. The government is now anxiously watching, fearing that the efforts made during last year's visit to the Czech Republic to secure the contract may come to nothing.

Dense fog continues to cloud visibility across various sectors of South Korean society. The presidential race is truly shrouded in fog. The political landscape has descended into chaos after the Supreme Court overturned the ruling in the election law violation case of Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, and sent it back for retrial with a guilty verdict in mind.

Presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung attending the Buddhist celebration ceremony Photo by Yonhap News

The Democratic Party, sensing a crisis as the Supreme Court defied expectations and pushed through a ruling at an unusually rapid pace, has launched an all-out offensive against the judiciary, including efforts to impeach Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Heedae. The party's campaign continues daily, as the "worst-case scenario" emerges: the court could strip Lee of his candidacy before the presidential election.

Lee has gone so far as to liken the Supreme Court's ruling to "judicial murder," sharpening his rhetoric, while the Democratic Party plans to convene the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on the 7th to pass an amendment to the Public Official Election Act that would delete certain provisions regarding the crime of making false statements. The party's intention is to eliminate the grounds for punishment by revising the election law. The Democratic Party, which has even left the top economic post vacant?despite the need to focus on responding to U.S. tariffs?is revealing its "legislation-can-solve-everything" mindset without reservation, leveraging its 170 seats in the National Assembly.

The People Power Party is also struggling to clear the fog. On the 6th, presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo criticized the party leadership and suspended his campaign entirely. Discord over the unification negotiations is escalating. Kim expressed his dissatisfaction, saying, "The leadership is trying to forcibly remove me, a legitimate presidential candidate." The unification with former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, which was expected to proceed quickly after the party convention to select the presidential candidate, has also hit a snag. Kim's change in attitude, after previously being positive about unification, has become another variable.

Candidate Kim Moonsoo and Candidate Han Ducksoo Yonhap News

Early voting for the presidential election will take place on the 29th and 30th. With only 22 days left before receiving their ballots to select a presidential candidate, the public feels frustrated. Although May is "Family Month" and gatherings are taking place everywhere, it is not easy for families to sit around the table and have a relaxed conversation about the next president.

The 12·3 Martial Law crisis has pushed society to extremes, and growing distrust of the judiciary and intensifying political conflict are deepening the divide. With less than a month left before the presidential election, campaign pledges?which should be the top priority for voters?have disappeared, and only the whirlpool of political strife engulfs Yeouido. Official campaigning to elect a new president begins on the 12th. Before it is too late, presidential candidates should compete with their policy pledges.