South Korea's presidential election to vote on March 9.
In South Korea, where conservatives and innovations have repeatedly changed their powers, candidates for the ruling and opposition parties are competing fiercely until the end of the game.
The outcome of the election could have a major impact on Japan-South Korea relations, which is said to be the worst since the normalization of diplomatic relations.
Who will be elected as the next president of South Korea?
I will explain in detail the points of the election campaign and the latest situation.
(Seoul Branch Reporter Takahide Nagasago)
What is the latest situation in South Korea's presidential election?
According to the latest opinion poll released on February 25, the ruling party's candidate Lee Jae-myung (Lee Jae-myung), who advocates the continuation of the innovative government, is 38%, and the largest opposition party, Yoon Seok-yeol, who is aiming for a change of government. Is 37%, the difference is only 1 point.
In this year, the opposition candidate Yun caught up and turned around for a while, but the ruling party candidate Lee surpassed again and competed fiercely until the end of the game.
How is the president of South Korea decided in the first place?
The president of South Korea is elected by a direct election in which the people vote.
The term of office is five years and only one term, unlike the president of the United States, he is not re-elected.
In South Korea, the conservative and innovative parties have changed powers almost every 10 years since democracy in 1987, and this time too, the two major conservative ruling parties, the Democratic Party of Korea and the largest conservative opposition, the People Power Party. The composition is a confrontation between political parties.
What kind of person is Korea's next leader candidate?
Lee Jae-myung, the ruling party's Democratic Party of Korea, who advocates the continuation of the reformist government, is the former governor of Gyeonggi Province.
He was poor when he was a child, and after graduating from elementary school, he supported his household while working at a factory.
He entered college after a hard time, and after graduating he worked as a human rights lawyer.
It is sometimes called "cider" because it makes people feel refreshed when they hear something that doesn't wear on their teeth.
He has no experience as a member of parliament.
Yoon Suk-yeol, the largest conservative opposition party aiming for a change of power, is the person who has risen to the top of the prosecution's chief prosecutor under the current Moon Jae-in administration.
Even after he became prosecutor-general, he did not hesitate to take control of the administration, leading an investigation into allegations over the president's aides and confronting the administration head-on.
His attitude was supported and he entered the world of politics for the first time in this presidential election.
What holds the key to victory or defeat?
It is the trend of young people in their 20s and 30s.
The younger generation in South Korea is characterized by a higher proportion of independents than other generations.
In the last election five years ago, the turnout was high, with 76.1% in their 20s and 74.2% in their 30s, with 3 out of 4 people voting.
Since the political system and the election system are different, it is not possible to simply compare them, but in the Japanese House of Representatives election held in October last year, the turnout of 20s was 36.5% and that of 30s was 47.1%.
It is said that winning or losing will depend on how much support the younger generation can get while competing fiercely in opinion polls, and both candidates are actively using SNS such as YouTube to get the attention of young people.
What are the issues in this election?
Voters are paying attention to economic policies, especially those on soaring real estate prices.
After the inauguration of President Mun Jae-in, the average price of condominiums in Seoul has nearly doubled.
Real estate prices are becoming a symbol of widening disparities.
While many young people spend a lot of their time in their twenties in fierce employment competition aiming for stable large corporations and civil servants, they are dissatisfied with the existing politics that cannot change the society while the disparity is widening. It is.
Is there a difference between the claims of both candidates?
While both candidates have similar pledges regarding measures to close the disparity, the clear differences can be seen in foreign policy and attitude toward Japan.
Regarding the chilling relationship between Japan and South Korea, all candidates are aiming to improve the relationship, but the TV debate held on February 3 made a difference in their positions.
When asked which of Japan, the United States, China, and North Korea to start the summit, Lee, a candidate for the ruling party for innovation, said, "I think that practical diplomacy centered on national interests is the most important. You don't have to say first, China first, or North Korea first. It's most important to discuss the situation and meet the most useful and most effective partner at the most effective time. I think it is. "
In response, conservative opposition candidate Yun said, "I am the President of the United States, then the Prime Minister of Japan, and then President Xi Jinping and Chairman Kim Jong Eun. During the current Mun Jane administration, while doing "submissive diplomacy" that is too close to China, Korea-US relations and Korea-Japan relations have collapsed, so I think it is a priority to restore it to normal. " He stated that he would hold a summit meeting with Japan after the United States, which is an ally of South Korea.
How do you deal with Japan-South Korea relations concerns?
How will the relationship between Japan and South Korea, which is said to be the worst since the normalization of diplomatic relations, be improved due to issues such as “recruitment” * during the Pacific War?
Both candidates have clarified their thoughts at press conferences for foreign media.
Mr. Lee, a candidate for the ruling party, said, "We will separate the historical and territorial issues that hinder the relationship, and the social and economic issues that are important in the relationship between countries and the people, and do it from what we can do. I think it's better to go with the "two-track" of going on. If the territorial issue is the territorial issue, the political issue is separated by the political issue, and the economic exchange and cooperation issues are also separated, I I think we can find a way that both sides can fully agree on. "
The Mun Jane administration also claims this "two track".
In response, opposition candidate Yun said, "We should approach the problem by putting all the issues on one table and negotiating comprehensively. Like Korea-US relations, Korea-Japan relations are also national defense and foreign affairs.・ I think that regular communication between 2 + 2 and 3 + 3 government officials, such as the economy, is necessary to restore future relationships and solve (problems). " The company is aiming for a comprehensive solution to the concerns between the two countries, such as resuming "shuttle diplomacy" to visit the partner country.
(* The Supreme Court's decision ordering compensation for Japanese companies over "recruitment" was finalized four years ago. The judicial procedure for selling the assets of Japanese companies is proceeding in South Korea. The issue has been resolved by the rights agreement, and the Korean side is requested to take appropriate measures.)
Who are the experts on the claims of both candidates?
However, in the election campaign, the difference in position with Japan is not a big issue.
Park Sung-min, a representative of the political consulting group who has been watching Korean politics for many years, said that “youth trends” is also a key point here.
* Min is a people of the king
"Young people in their twenties and thirties are very critical of China and North Korea and have a favorable impression of the United States and Japan. Candidate Lee of the ruling party made a strong statement to Japan. However, it has the opposite effect on young people in their 20s and 30s, and it has not been made into an issue. Similarly, Yun also feels a burden (the problem of Japan and South Korea), so he has not developed it into an issue in particular.
Regarding the outlook for the future election campaign,
"
The current 20s and 30s have never experienced a dictatorship, unlike previous generations, so there is no strong solidarity or sense of unity with the political parties." On the other hand, since he was born in a disparity society, he is sensitive to the issue of "fairness", and the support for both candidates is liable to fluctuate, and it cannot be said that he has leaned to one side yet. " Then I am analyzing.