Seoul — As South Korea’s presidential race intensifies, Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung stated during the campaign’s first televised debate that he would not rush into trade negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump regarding tariffs. Citing the need for a strategic, measured approach, Lee said South Korea should act in its own best interest rather than respond hastily to American demands.
“There’s always room for negotiation. We shouldn’t feel pressured to act too quickly,” Lee said, expressing skepticism that the U.S. would hold firm on initial tariff proposals. “I won’t be rushing into any deals,” he added.
Rival candidate Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party offered a contrasting approach, vowing to pursue early talks with Trump. Kim cited a history of trust and shared values between Seoul and Washington, expressing confidence in his ability to manage trade talks based on that alliance.
While acknowledging the importance of alliances with the U.S. and Japan, Lee warned against overdependence on any one country. “We can’t afford to put all our eggs in one basket,” he said. “Our relationships with China and Russia are just as critical for our national strategy.”
Lee also responded to criticism of earlier remarks suggesting neutrality in a potential China-Taiwan conflict. At a May campaign event, Lee had said South Korea should avoid taking sides, stating, “If China and Taiwan end up fighting, it’s not our business. We can simply say ‘xie xie’ to both and maintain good relations.”
At the debate, he defended that position, saying Seoul must prioritize diplomacy and avoid getting drawn into escalating regional tensions. When pressed on whether the U.S. would remain neutral in a hypothetical conflict on the Korean Peninsula, Lee dismissed the comparison as “extreme” and unrealistic.
Kim, meanwhile, stressed the importance of the U.S.-South Korea military alliance, particularly in deterring North Korea’s nuclear threat. “Without security, there is no economy,” Kim said, advocating for a layered defense system that includes U.S. military presence in South Korea, Japan, and Guam.
Lee agreed on the necessity of deterrence but noted that South Korea had maximized its conventional military capabilities and should continue to be backed by the U.S. nuclear umbrella. He reaffirmed his party’s commitment to eventual denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
The candidates also clashed on domestic energy policy. Kim criticized the Democratic Party’s plan to phase out nuclear energy, while Lee defended the shift toward renewables as a safer, more sustainable path forward.
The debate touched on an ongoing criminal case involving Lee’s alleged role in illegal financial transfers to North Korea. Prosecutors allege that Lee was involved in a 2018 scheme to send $3 million to Pyongyang through the company Ssangbangwool to arrange a visit to the North. Lee denied any wrongdoing and labeled the charges politically motivated. “The prosecution has clearly overstepped,” he said.
Kim also addressed internal tensions within his party, distancing himself from former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who recently exited the People Power Party. Speaking on Yoon’s declaration of martial law in December 2024, Kim said he would have intervened had he known in advance and apologized to the public.
“Democracy thrives on dialogue and compromise—not martial law,” Kim concluded.According to Asia News Network, the debate highlighted diverging visions on foreign policy, national security, and economic independence ahead of South Korea’s upcoming election.
