South Korea’s presidential candidates faced off in their first TV debate on Sunday evening, ahead of a snap election on June 3 to choose a successor to former President Yoon Suk-yeol who was impeached over his short-lived martial law declaration in December.
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Sunday’s debate, the first of three TV debates scheduled over the next two weeks, focused on how to revitalise the struggling economy, one of the hot-button election issues.
Lee Jae-myung, the main opposition Democratic Party’s candidate and the front runner in the race, came under a flurry of questions in the heated, rapid-fire first debate.
He advocated more investment in artificial intelligence, protection for unionised workers, a 4-1/2-day working week and putting South Korea’s interests first in responding to US tariffs.
There was no need for Seoul to rush to reach a trade agreement with Washington, Lee said.
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“I think we should prepare well for this situation delicately and competently,” Lee added, also arguing South Korea needs to nurture hi-tech and renewable energy industries to overcome low economic growth.