TAIPIEI, TAIWAN – The final television television debate before the June 3 elections in South Korea was dominated by an in -depth examination by the main candidate of the Democratic Party Lee JAE -MYUNG, the presumed participation in illegal cash transfers to North Korea.
The subject took the front of the scene during the foreign policy and the national part of the debate, when Lee stressed the importance of the dialogue and the peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang. Stressing that the defense budget of South Korea is double that of the North, it pleaded for diplomacy.
However, his remarks provided an opening for the Kim Moon-Soo conservative rival of the People Power Party and the centrist Lee Jun-Seok of the new reform party, which launched coordinated attacks highlighting the alleged “Risk of North Korea” of Lee.
Kim accused Lee of being at the center of a scandal involving illegal funds sent to North Korea.
“Despite the UN sanctions, the question of illegal funds to the North has surfaced. On May 9, the president of the American Korean Korean association of Washington officially filed a complaint with the US Treasury, the State Department and the United Nations Security Council, accusing Lee of secretly transferring 10 billion South Korean Koreans (8 million dollars) to North Korea, “Kim told Kim.
South Korean prosecutors allege that between 2019 and 2020, during his mandate as governor of the province of Gyeonggi, Lee led the SSANGBANGWool group to transfer US Dollars to North Korea, including 5 million dollars planned for an intelligent farm project and 3 million US dollars to facilitate a prospective visit to Lee Pyongyang.
The former LEE sub-government, Lee Hwa-Young, was sentenced and sentenced to nine and a half in prison for his involvement in the program, which included transfers of corruption funds and unauthorized in North Korea.
Lee denies any reprehensible act and says that the accusations are politically motivated.
He maintains that the accusation affair has no merit and is an attempt to undermine his political career. The case is underway.
“This money now feeds the Kim family and returns as nuclear threats. I will continue a transparent and vertical inter -French relationship,” said Kim.
Lee Jun-Seok followed by questioning Lee about his campaign commitment to move the headquarters of the HMM expedition giant in the city of Busan.
When Lee identified the predecessor of HMM as Hyundai Mercant Marine, Lee Jun-Seok noted that the company had once engaged in North Korean projects which cost him around 200 million dollars-a case that many would consider a major scandal today.
“Whatever the court decisions, the SSANGBANGWOOL fund transfer case could be the subject of American sanctions.
Lee rejected during the debate.
“The cash transfer had nothing to do with me. There are even rumors that the funds were used for the game after the start of surveys on the manipulation of actions. I believe that the truth will be revealed,” he said.
While the allegations dominated the evening, Lee found a certain support from Kwon Young-Guk of the Democratic Labor Party. Kwon criticized the psychological provocations of North Korea along the border areas and highlighted the suffering of residents.
“I sympathize completely. Taking a hard position alone is not the solution,” said Lee.
Lee had previously declared that he thought that the current strategy towards the North had turned too much towards the confrontation.
Relations between the two countries since the end of the 1950-1953 Korean War have waxed and declined for decades between incessant hostility and attempts to bring together.
While recognizing the “hostile” nature of current intercreen relations, he supported in several media interviews that the strong military and alliances of South Korea – in particular with the United States and Japan – already provide sufficient deterrence.
Instead, he insisted on “communication and commitment” with the North, reporting a return to the approach of the previous governments of the Democratic Party.
On a broader foreign policy, the candidates diverged. Lee reiterated support for the American alliance of South Korea, but warned of unnecessary hostilities with China and Russia.
“We must not ignore the relationship between China and Russia, and it is not necessary to be unnecessarily hostile as we are now,” said Lee.
Lee's criticisms accused him of adopting a “subordinate” position towards China.
Lee aroused controversy during his campaign in 2022 saying, “Why did we care about what happens to the Taiwan Strait? Shouldn't we just take care of ourselves?”
He then clarified that his point of view concerned diplomatic pragmatism and that South Korea should avoid aggravating relations with China.
Kim called to strengthen nuclear deterrence under the American alliance, while Lee Jun-Seok proposed to merge foreign ministries and unification and to name a “Deputy Prime Minister”.
Kwon Young-Guk went further, promising “the engineer when the United States and North Korea establish diplomatic relations”.
A Realmeter Wednesday survey, a South Korean survey organization, showed Lee support at 49.2%, followed by Kim with 36.8%. The margin of error was 3.1% points at a 95% level of confidence. Lee Jun-Seok was third with support of 10.3%.
The survey serves as a final indicator of voters' feeling because the publication of opinion polls will be prohibited Wednesday under the electoral law.
Edited by Mike Firn.