"Unification" and "Negative Campaigning" Clash... Fierce Exchanges at Pyeongtaek By-election Candidate Debate

One Day Before the Deadline for Conservative Unity
All Five Candidates Attend the Debate

On May 27, the candidates for the 6·3 Pyeongtaek-eul National Assembly by-election—Kim Yongnam, Yoo Eui-dong, Cho Kuk, Kim Jae-yeon, and Hwang Kyo-ahn (listed in order of ballot number)—clashed in a candidate debate.

The Asia Business Daily DB

The debate, which took place at CBS in Mok-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, lasted for about two hours from 6 p.m. During the debate, the candidates engaged in heated exchanges over issues such as prosecution reform, allegations of election fraud, conservative unification, and negative campaigning. Each candidate presented their political philosophies and visions for Pyeongtaek, while persistently attacking their opponents' weaknesses.

At the beginning of the debate, the candidates revealed a personal side by introducing their “life items.” Kim Yongnam of the Democratic Party of Korea presented a worn-out bag he has used for 15 years, saying, “Like a soldier wearing a uniform, it makes me feel ready to go to work.” Yoo Eui-dong of the People Power Party brought out a short-sleeved campaign shirt and business card from his first term, stating, “After my defeat, I reflected on what voices from the residents I had missed. I will approach this election with the mindset I had at the beginning.”

Cho Kuk of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party introduced a photo of himself from 2019, carrying a cake home after missing his daughter’s birthday, and said, “It symbolizes my determination to accomplish prosecution reform.” Hwang Kyo-ahn of the Liberty and Innovation Party presented a “bamboo cane,” explaining, “It means I will continue to walk in the right direction without wavering.” Kim Jae-yeon of the Progressive Party brought out a “book” containing her own story.

When asked, “What does Pyeongtaek mean to you?” the candidates’ identities and strategies became clear. Candidate Cho responded, “Pyeongtaek is my last hometown,” adding, “I will create a pond where all citizens can live warmly together, bridging the gap between new and old towns, and between urban and rural areas.” Candidate Yoo emphasized, “It is the hometown where I was born, raised, and even raised my children. It is a place I must protect,” pledging to safeguard Pyeongtaek. Candidate Hwang referred to it as “the heart of the Republic of Korea,” while candidate Kim Yongnam described it as “a land of unlimited opportunity,” referencing Samsung Electronics’ Pyeongtaek Campus and Pyeongtaek Port. Candidate Kim Jae-yeon described it as a source of “long-standing indebtedness.”

During the policy debate that followed, candidate Cho stated, “I must be elected to the National Assembly in this election so that I can return to the National Assembly and fulfill prosecution reform, which became a key national agenda after the 12·3 rebellion. There are divided opinions even within the Democratic Party, so I need to enter the National Assembly and provide leadership.”

Candidate Yoo pressed Cho on allegations regarding his child’s college admissions and his stance on the public concept of land ownership, and urged, “Do not try to escape by framing yourself as a victim of ‘political prosecution.’”

The issue of candidate unification was also brought to the table. Yoo said, “The conservative voices must come together as one.” In contrast, candidate Kim firmly ruled out any possibility of unification with Cho of the Innovation Party, saying, “There is none.”

In the latter part of the debate, negative attacks intensified. Candidate Kim, on the verge of tears, accused Cho of “immoral politics” in response to allegations concerning his mother raised by a YouTuber with a pro-opposition stance, while Cho countered that “the broadcast has nothing to do with me.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.