South Korea Presidential Candidates Clash in First Debate Amid Economic Turmoil

South Korea's presidential candidates Lee Jae-myung and Kim Moon-soo clashed in the first of three televised debates ahead of the June 3 snap election, following the ouster of President Yoon Suk-yeol over his controversial martial law declaration. Lee, the Democratic Party frontrunner with 51% support, emphasized a pragmatic foreign policy balancing relations with both the U.S. and China, advocated for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and pledged substantial investment in artificial intelligence and renewable energy to counter economic stagnation. He also proposed a four-and-a-half-day workweek, stronger protections for unionized workers, constitutional reforms, and a cautious approach to trade talks with the U.S., which recently imposed 25% tariffs on South Korean goods. Kim, the conservative People Power Party candidate, focused on deregulation, job creation, regulatory innovation, and allocating over 5% of the national budget to research and development to stimulate growth. The debate highlighted South Korea's economic challenges, including a contracting economy and trade tensions, and set the tone for a pivotal election that will shape the country's economic policies and democratic stability post-Yoon. Both candidates presented divergent visions for navigating the geopolitical tensions and domestic economic issues facing South Korea.