South Korean presidential debate mired in top contender’s alleged link to North Korea

[ad_1] TAIPEI, Taiwan – The ultimate televised presidential debate forward of South Korea’s June 3 election was dominated by fierce scrutiny over the main candidate from the Democratic Occasion Lee Jae-myung’s alleged involvement in unlawful money transfers to North Korea.

The subject took middle stage throughout the overseas coverage and nationwide safety portion of the controversy, when Lee underscored the significance of dialogue and peaceable coexistence with Pyongyang. Stressing that South Korea’s protection finances is double that of the North’s, he argued for diplomacy.

Nevertheless, his remarks supplied a gap for conservative rival Kim Moon-soo of the Folks Energy Occasion and centrist Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Occasion, who launched coordinated assaults highlighting Lee’s alleged “North Korea threat.”

Kim accused Lee of being on the middle of a scandal involving unlawful funds despatched to North Korea.

“Regardless of U.N. sanctions, the problem of unlawful remittances to the North have surfaced. On Might 9, president of the Korean American Affiliation in Washington formally filed a criticism with the U.S. Treasury, State Division, and U.N. Safety Council, accusing Lee of secretly transferring 10 billion South Korean gained (US$8 million) to North Korea,” mentioned Kim.

South Korean prosecutors allege that between 2019 and 2020, throughout his tenure as governor of Gyeonggi Province, Lee directed the Ssangbangwool Group to switch US$8 million to North Korea, together with US$5 million supposed for a wise farm challenge and US$3 million to facilitate a potential go to by Lee to Pyongyang.

Lee’s former deputy governor, Lee Hwa-young, was convicted and sentenced to nine-and-a-half years in jail for his involvement within the scheme, which encompassed bribery and unauthorized fund transfers to North Korea.

Lee denies any wrongdoing and says the fees are politically motivated.

He contends that the prosecution’s case lacks benefit and is an try and undermine his political profession. The case is ongoing.

“That cash is now feeding the Kim household and returning to us as nuclear threats. I'll pursue a clear and upright inter-Korean relationship,” Kim mentioned.

<img data-chromatic="ignore" alt="(L to R) South Korea’s presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party and Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Party pose for photographs ahead of the third televised presidential debate for the forthcoming June 3 presidential election on May 27, 2025." class="c-image" loading="lazy" src="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/DEM2XX3QIBGVXOA5BRXX4FEBNE.jpg?auth=bfdb0a7c0e3da2eb1d7a23d3866807cff9147ae0808664abe358ca9a5438299a&width=800&height=555" srcset="https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/DEM2XX3QIBGVXOA5BRXX4FEBNE.jpg?auth=bfdb0a7c0e3da2eb1d7a23d3866807cff9147ae0808664abe358ca9a5438299a&width=274&height=190 274w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/DEM2XX3QIBGVXOA5BRXX4FEBNE.jpg?auth=bfdb0a7c0e3da2eb1d7a23d3866807cff9147ae0808664abe358ca9a5438299a&width=400&height=277 400w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/DEM2XX3QIBGVXOA5BRXX4FEBNE.jpg?auth=bfdb0a7c0e3da2eb1d7a23d3866807cff9147ae0808664abe358ca9a5438299a&width=768&height=532 768w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/DEM2XX3QIBGVXOA5BRXX4FEBNE.jpg?auth=bfdb0a7c0e3da2eb1d7a23d3866807cff9147ae0808664abe358ca9a5438299a&width=1024&height=710 1024w, https://www.rfa.org/resizer/v2/DEM2XX3QIBGVXOA5BRXX4FEBNE.jpg?auth=bfdb0a7c0e3da2eb1d7a23d3866807cff9147ae0808664abe358ca9a5438299a&width=1440&height=999 1440w" width="800" height="555"/> south-korea-presidential-date_05282025_1 (L to R) South Korea’s presidential candidates, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Occasion, Kwon Younger-guk of the Democratic Labor Occasion, Kim Moon-soo of the Folks Energy Occasion and Lee Jun-seok of the New Reform Occasion pose for images forward of the third televised presidential debate for the forthcoming June 3 presidential election on Might 27, 2025. (Kim Min-hee/AFP) Lee Jun-seok adopted up by questioning Lee about his marketing campaign pledge to relocate transport large HMM’s headquarters to town of Busan.

When Lee recognized HMM’s predecessor as Hyundai Service provider Marine, Lee Jun-seok pointedly famous that the corporate had as soon as engaged in North Korean tasks that price it some $200 million – an affair that many would contemplate a significant scandal in the present day.

“No matter home court docket rulings, the Ssangbangwool remittance case might make Lee topic to U.S. sanctions. Even when he turns into president, U.S. immigration legislation Part 212 might bar his entry,” mentioned Lee Jun-seok.

Lee pushed again throughout the debate.

“The money switch had nothing to do with me. There are even rumors the funds have been used for playing after inventory manipulation investigations started. I imagine the reality will likely be revealed,” he argued.

Whereas the allegations dominated the night, Lee discovered some help from Kwon Younger-guk of the Democratic Labour Occasion. Kwon criticized North Korea’s psychological provocations alongside border areas and highlighted residents’ struggling.

“I utterly sympathize. Taking a hardline stance alone isn’t the answer,” Lee mentioned.

Lee beforehand mentioned he believed the present technique towards the North has tipped too far towards confrontation.

Relations between the 2 nations because the finish of the 1950-53 Korean Conflict have waxed and waned for many years between unremitting hostility and makes an attempt at rapprochement.

Whereas acknowledging the “hostile” nature of present inter-Korean relations, he argued in a number of media interviews that South Korea’s sturdy navy and alliances – significantly with the U.S. and Japan – already present ample deterrence.

As a substitute, he insisted on “communication and engagement” with the North, signaling a return to the method of earlier Democratic Occasion governments.

On broader overseas coverage, the candidates diverged. Lee reiterated help for the U.S.-South Korea alliance however warned in opposition to pointless hostilities with China and Russia.

“We should not overlook the connection between China and Russia, and there's no should be unnecessarily hostile as we are actually,” mentioned Lee.

Critics of Lee have accused him of adopting a “subservient” stance towards China.

Lee stirred controversy throughout his 2022 marketing campaign by saying: “Why can we care what occurs to the Taiwan Strait? Shouldn’t we simply deal with ourselves?”

He later clarified that his level was about diplomatic pragmatism and that South Korea ought to keep away from worsening relations with China.

Kim known as for strengthening nuclear deterrence beneath the U.S. alliance, whereas Lee Jun-seok proposed merging the International and Unification Ministries and appointing a “Deputy Prime Minister for Safety.”

Kwon Younger-guk went additional, vowing to “engineer the second the U.S. and North Korea set up diplomatic relations.”

A Wednesday survey from Realmeter, a South Korean polling group, confirmed help for Lee at 49.2%, adopted by Kim with 36.8%. The margin of error was 3.1% factors at a 95% confidence degree. Lee Jun-seok was operating third with 10.3% help.

The ballot serves as the ultimate indicator of voter sentiment as a result of the publication of opinion polls will likely be banned from Wednesday beneath election legislation.