South Korea’s leading presidential hopefuls traded sharp blows in their first televised debate on Sunday as the country prepared for a snap election on 3 June following the impeachment of former leader Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed bid to impose martial law.
Lee Jae Myung, candidate for the liberal Democratic Party and current frontrunner, used the stage to lay out an expansive policy vision, including major investments in artificial intelligence, labour protections and economic self-reliance. His main rival, Kim Moon Soo of the conservative People Power Party, focused on job creation, deregulation and strengthening the country’s alliance with the US.
