hankyoreh

candidate for the Unified Progressive Party (UPP)

By Seok Jin-hwan, staff reporter

As Korea’s 18th presidential election enters its final stretch, attention is focused on Lee Jung-hee, candidate for the Unified Progressive Party (UPP).

Lee only has a 1% rating in the polls. But with the two main candidates - Park Geun-hye of the Saenuri Party (NFP) and Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party (DUP) - neck and neck, with only one or two points difference, the question of whether Lee will eventually bow out of the race could very well be the deciding factor in who becomes president. Some analysts say that with all the other external factors already in play, including former candidate Ahn Cheol-soo’s active support for Moon, Lee is the only variable left in the equation.

According to polls commissioned by the Hankyoreh, Lee’s rating on Nov. 25 was only 0.3%, but it rose to 1.7% on Dec. 12 after her appearances in the first two televised debates. Opinion poll analysts expect this to reach 2% after the third debate. Significantly, the gap between Park and Moon in the Dec. 12 survey was only 2%.

“Pressure to step down is starting to intensify,” admitted a member of Lee’s camp. If either of the candidates had a strong lead, it wouldn’t matter if she completed the race, but with the election getting closer by the day, there is growing pressure for her to bow out.

By Lee’s own estimation, she has already accomplished quite a lot through the debates alone. Not only did she raise public awareness of the UPP, she also brought attention to some of the skeletons in Park’s closet, such as the 600 million won (US$558,000) she received from former president Chun Doo-hwan and the house in Seongbuk-dong she was given. These facts had been largely unknown to the average voter.

If Lee does bow out, timing and method will be crucial, as she will have to bring her entire 2% to the polls while fending off attacks from the conservative media and the Saenuri Party. Another risk that must be considered is that Moon could actually lose support among moderates who are uncomfortable with the UPP if he moves to appeal to Lee’s 2%.

“If Lee does withdraw from the election, she’ll probably choose a dignified way of doing so,” suggested a UPP member. “I doubt she would make any demands for political concessions from the DUP in return for leaving the race.”

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