hankyoreh

By Seok Jin-hwan, staff reporter

Park Geun-hye, presidential candidate for the Saenuri Party (NFP), is still refusing to take part in a one-on-one debate with Moon Jae-in, candidate for the Democratic United Party. The main TV networks have been making efforts to get the two main candidates together for a televised debate.

Moon’s camp is focusing its attack on what it calls “the arrogant position of refusing to help voters make an informed decision.”

Park’s camp members have clung to the stance that there is no room in the campaign schedule and that they will make their decision after the legal debate organized by the National Election Commission (NEC).

“By itself, the NEC legal debate [in which three candidates participate] can’t guarantee the public’s right to know,” said Park Gwang-on, Moon’s spokesperson, in reference to Park’s evasion of two-way debates.

“Moon is ready to face the verdict of a two-way debate, whenever and however that might take place. Park should not settle for a fake interview with the public, but should take part in a genuine interview,” he urged.

“Park was saying that she couldn‘t take part in a debate because there were two opposition candidates [Moon and Ahn]. Now that the single opposition candidate has been selected, the one-on-one debate should take place right away,” said Woo Sang-ho, head of Moon’s PR team, in an official statement.

“An election campaign should consist of more than rallies where lots of your supporters gather at some plaza. You have to show who the most qualified presidential candidate is through a debate that focuses on policies and vision,” he said, putting pressure on Park’s camp.

On Nov. 13, before the single opposition candidate was determined, SBS had approached each camp with a proposal to hold a two-way debate between Park and the single opposition candidate on Nov. 28. Moon agreed, but Park has still not responded. Moreover, KBS also offered to host a two-way policy debate on Nov. 29 and 30. Again, Moon said he would participate, but Park’s camp did not provide an answer.

“The NEC debates are three-way debates with Park, Moon, and Lee Jung-hee, and since they focus on fairness, they are less dynamic,” the broadcasters explained. “Viewers are very interested in seeing the two strongest candidates go head to head.”

“Park’s schedule is completely booked from now until the day before the election with events that will give her a chance to meet voters around the country,” Park Sun-gyu said as explanation for the lack of debates.

“We are being contacted by nearly all of the TV networks about a two-way debate. The problem is, the opposition candidate was selected too late. We’re running out of time, and the conditions that would allow us to give the people a chance to make a choice no longer exist.”

“We will decide whether two-way debates are necessary after the CEMC debate on Dec. 4,” he added.

“It‘s just sad to hear the Park camp blaming time, schedule, and other people,” Moon’s spokesperson Park Yong-jin said in response to the explanation provided by the Saenuri candidate.

“It seems more likely that Park’s propensity to making verbal gaffes when trying to answer simple questions is making the people in her inner circle nervous [about her taking part in a debate],” he suggested.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]