Presidential hopefuls get ready for first TV debate

A banner announcing the upcoming presidential election, set to be held March 9, stands at Seoul Express Bus Terminal in Seoul's Seocho District, Wednesday. Yonhap

Polls show Yoon, Lee in dead heat

By Jung Da-min

Four of Korea's presidential candidates have been gearing up for a TV debate set to be held Thursday. The four candidates include Lee Jae-myung of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Yoon Suk-yeol of the main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP), Sim Sang-jung of the minor opposition progressive Justice Party and Ahn Cheol-soo of the minor opposition conservative People's Party.

Co-hosted by three local broadcasters ― KBS, MBC and SBS ― the TV debate marks the first among the four candidates since they were selected by their parties.

With the much-anticipated, one-on-one debate between Lee and Yoon ― the race's two top dogs ― canceled due to their differences over the rules of engagement, the candidates have been polishing up their strategies for the high-stakes, four-way debate in order to appeal to swing voters.

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea, presents his policy promises for North Gyeongsang Province to foster industrial complexes in the region, during his visit to Imcheonggak House in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, Tuesday. Courtesy of the Democratic Party of Korea's election committee

According to a survey of 1,002 adults conducted on Jan. 28 and 29 by local pollster Southern Post, at the request of local broadcaster CBS, 87.1 percent of the respondents said that they plan to watch the TV debate and 75.6 percent said that it will affect their choice of preferential candidates.

Another survey of 1,000 adults from Jan. 27 to 29 by Hankook Research, at the request of KBS, found that 31.6 percent of the respondents who said they had already decided on their preferential candidate said that they could change their choice of whom to support. Among the respondents who said that they do not have a preferential candidate, 56.8 percent said they could decide on whom to support after watching the TV debate.

Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential candidate of main opposition conservative People Power Party, speaks during his visit to Ganghwa Peace Observatory in Ganghwa County, Incheon, Tuesday. Courtesy of the People Power Party's election committee

The DPK's Lee, a veteran politician known for his straightforwardness and strong policy drive, is planning to present a different image as a stable leader, while focusing on putting forth his policy promises.

The PPP's Yoon, who had often made headlines for his inappropriate or controversial remarks on sensitive social issues, is spending more time with his election team to prepare for the debate and in order to avoid a politically damaging performance.

Ahn of the People's Party and Sim of the Justice Party are seeking to increase their presence through the debate.

Ahn, who worked previously as both a doctor and an IT entrepreneur, is expected to offer his political vision for the country's development based on the scientific sector.

Sim, a veteran politician and four-term lawmaker, is planning to speak up for social minority groups, including workers subject to poor labor conditions, women struggling to achieve equality, the disabled and migrant residents fighting for their basic rights.

Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the minor opposition conservative People's Party, who was formerly a doctor, volunteers as a medical worker at a COVID-19 testing station in a Seoul Jung District community health center, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

In recent opinion polls, Lee and Yoon remain in a neck-and-neck race.

According to a survey of 1,002 adults conducted on Jan. 29 by local pollster Opinion Research Justice, at the request of online news provider Dailyan, Yoon garnered 43.5-percent support from the respondents, followed by Lee at 38.1 percent. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points with a 95-percent confidence level.

Sim Sang-jung, the presidential candidate of the minor opposition liberal Justice Party, speaks during her visit to a noodle restaurant in Namdaemun Market, central Seoul, to talk with small business owners there, Wednesday. Courtesy of the Justice Party

Ahn ranked third with a 7.8-percent support rate and Sim ranked fourth with 2.8 percent.

In another survey of 1,000 adults conducted on Jan. 28 and 29 by local pollster Korea Society Opinion Institute, at the request of local broadcaster TBS, 41.6 percent of the respondents said they support Yoon, while 37.9 percent support Lee. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, with a 95-percent confidence level.

Ahn and Sim garnered 10.6 percent and 3 percent respectively.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday evening, Lee held a two-way debate with minor opposition candidate Kim Dong-yeon of the New Wave, a new party Kim created for his presidential bid. Kim had served as the deputy prime minister under the Moon Jae-in government, after serving as a senior financial official in both the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye administrations.

Further details of the polls are available on the websites of the survey agencies or of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.