Turning to our ongoing coverage of the May ninth presidential election... now just over
three weeks away...
The five candidates in the running for the top office went toe-to-toe in their first
televised debate on Thursday night.
Our Shin Se-min has the highlights.
South Korea's presidential election moved into high gear Thursday as the top five contenders
faced off in their very first TV debate... one that could help sway legions of undecided
voters, less than a month before they go to the polls.
And a hotly debated topic was national security and the deployment of THAAD to the Korean
peninsula.
"The incoming administration should be responsible for the deployment of THAAD, because the decision
made by the previous one did not have enough consensus.
"Stances like your vague position on THAAD is what's putting the country in a difficult
situation with China."
Also topping the stage,... was the issue of bettering the country's job market and boosting
the nation's welfare system.
"Companies will help expand the job market and raise the national income."
"Increasing taxes is a must.
It's something I had expressed even before I was made lawmaker."
Ranging from diplomatic solutions for the recent escalation of tensions in Northeast
Asia stemming from North Korea's provocations to plans to raise the corporate taxes,…
the candidates flip-flopped over a range of issues in the two-hour long debate.
After battling it out in front of the camera, the candidates moved on to make a key promise
to the Korean people.
"Here at Gwanghwamun Plaza, now an iconic place of this country's weeks-long candlelight
protests that triggered the take-down of an unconstitutional president; where citizens
have been camping out for years demanding the truth be unveiled regarding the capsize
of the Sewol-ho ferry... the presidential hopefuls vowed to make this nation a better,
a safer place to live."
Democratic Party's Moon Jae-in reaffirmed that a tragedy like the 2014 capsize of the
Sewol-ho ferry will never be repeated under his leadership.
People's Party's Ahn Cheol-soo boosted the importance of the well-being and safety of
the people to that of national security.
Minor progressive Justice Party's Sim Sang-jung said securing the safety of the people has
to do with changing the people's value, currently rooted-deep within the privileged class.
Shin Se-min, Arirang News.
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