Rival candidates' centrist moves face backlash
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, left, and main opposition People Power Party candidate Yoon Seok-youl listen to a speaker during their appearance at the 53rd Korea National Prayer Breakfast event at the Swiss Grand Hotel in Seodaemun District, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
By Nam Hyun-woo
The presidential candidates of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) are making centrist moves in an effort to appeal to moderate voters, but these attempts are facing a backlash from their respective ardent liberal and conservative supporters, who complain that they are compromising political consistency to win votes.
During an interview with a domestic newspaper, DPK presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung said he would not endorse basic income policies unless the public reaches a consensus on the initiative.
“If the public disagrees with the initiative even after thorough debate, the democratic approach for this is to not pursue it,” Lee said during the interview with the Kookmin Ilbo. “It is not a withdrawal or a U-turn. It is flexibility and pragmatism.” He added that he is confident about convincing the public about the benefits of a basic income.
Basic income policies are the core political philosophy that Lee has been championing. Based on this concept, he wants to introduce a basic income for young people, farmers and fishermen first, and then expand it to a universal income, with a plan to gradually increase the amount the government pays. The initiative, however, has been facing criticism that it is a populist policy which would damage the country's fiscal standing.
Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, left, announces new appointments to his election camp during a party meeting at its headquarters on Yeouido, Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
The comments came after Lee mentioned that he may pull several policies he has been advocating.
On Nov. 29, Lee said he would not pursue introducing a new tax plan for land, if the public opposed this. The “land tax” was an idea that Lee has been promoting since 2017, but he put a precondition of a public consensus citing “misunderstanding and distrust” on the purpose of the plan.
On Nov. 18, Lee also gave up on his plan of providing COVID-19 disaster relief to all citizens, after having a conflict with the government, which has been opposing the plan citing the fiscal burden.
Lee's moves are interpreted as a bid to shed his reputation as an “extremist” and appeal to centrists. As he stands in a neck-and-neck race with PPP candidate Yoon in surveys, the importance of grabbing moderate voters who advocate neither far left- nor right-wing policies is increasing.
However, Lee's centrist approach has been drawing criticism that he is compromising his political consistency.
“How long do the people have to endure the announcement of populist pledges?” PPP election committee spokeswoman Kim Eun-hye said. “Lee should change his election motto from 'Lee Jae-myung will do' to 'Lee Jae-myung will undo.'”
As doubts grow on Lee's policy withdrawals, Lee told a DPK meeting, Thursday, “I did not withdraw the basic income policy and I am convinced about the policy's necessity in a future society.”
“Because the public misunderstands it, I would have us open a debate on the policy, but not pursue it against the wishes of the public,” Lee said.
People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl inspects a construction site in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday, where three workers died in an accident a day earlier. Courtesy of Yoon's election camp
PPP candidate Yoon is also suffering a setback following his own centrist move.
Currently, Yoon is involved in an internal rift within the party, after he appointed professor Lee Soo-jeong of Kyonggi University, a renowned forensic psychologist who is also described as a feminist, as co-chair of the PPP election committee, Nov. 29, despite PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok's disagreement.
Since by-elections to pick Seoul and Busan mayors in April, the conservative party has been enjoying wide support from men in their 20s and 30s. This is largely attributable to Chairman Lee, who gained popularity with the demographic by claiming feminism-based policies discriminated against young men.
This, however, dropped young women's support for the PPP. According to a Nov. 26 poll by Gallup Korea, the PPP was garnering support from 45 percent of men in their 20s, while that of the DPK was 18 percent. In contrast, 28 percent of women surveyed in their 20s said they support the DPK, while that for the PPP was 11 percent.
After Yoon appointed professor Lee to counter this trend, the conflict between Yoon and the chairman escalated, and the latter has been boycotting all public events for the party since Nov. 30. After visiting the southern cities of Busan, Yeosu and Suncheon, Lee visited Jeju Island, Thursday to meet party members in the region unofficially.
Despite the internal conflict, Yoon's camp is yet to come up with solutions to control the situation, with Yoon saying, “Lee appears to be having a vacation to refresh himself.”
On Thursday, Yoon made a pro-labor move, visiting a construction site in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, where three workers died in an accident a day earlier.