"Our Debate Will Not Influence Policy"
Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, is introducing his wife, Seol Nanyoung, at the People Power Party convention held on the 3rd at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News
Seol Nanyoung, the spouse of People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo, expressed a positive stance regarding the proposal for a televised debate between candidates' spouses, describing it as "a matter of respect for the public."
In an interview with TV Chosun on the 20th, Seol stated, regarding the spouse debate proposed by Kim Yongtae, the emergency committee chair of the People Power Party, "Since we are receiving public attention, we should respond to questions that people are curious about."
In a phone interview with CBS Nocut News, Seol also said, "Given the controversies surrounding presidential spouses so far, it would be good to examine the person who may become the next First Lady," adding, "There may be aspects that the public, especially women, want to know."
She emphasized, "It is up to the public to judge the First Lady, and such a demand is only natural." However, she added, "If the other party does not agree, it cannot be helped," but also stated, "Given the many issues that have arisen, it is necessary to examine that person at least once."
Previously, Kim Yongtae, the emergency committee chair, proposed a televised debate between the spouses of Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party candidate, and Kim Moonsoo. In response, Lee rejected the proposal, saying, "We should not turn the sacred exercise of sovereignty into a mere event," while Kim expressed his support for the debate.
Regarding concerns about political or policy involvement, Seol clarified, "The spouses are not seeking to engage in politics," and added, "The debate topics can be set by the organizers to suit the spouses, and just because we debate does not mean it will influence policy."
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