Sun May 18 15:45:58 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**South Korean Presidential Hopefuls Clash in First Televised Debate Amidst Political Turmoil**

**Seoul, South Korea** – The race to replace ousted President Yoon Suk-yeol intensified Sunday as frontrunner Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party and his main rival, Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, faced off in the first of three televised debates. The snap election, scheduled for June 3rd, follows Yoon’s removal from office in April due to his controversial declaration of martial law.

The debate saw Lee, the current polling leader, defending his foreign policy approach, which emphasizes pragmatism and prioritizes South Korea’s interests. He argued against blindly aligning with the United States and advocated for managing relations with both China and Russia, while still acknowledging the necessity of security cooperation with the US and Japan. He stated the country “should not go all-in” on its alliance with the US. Lee also touched on the trade, stating there was no need to rush to reach a trade agreement with Washington.

“We should prepare well for this situation delicately and competently,” Lee stated, further emphasizing the need for investment in high-tech and renewable energy sectors. He also pledged investment into AI to develop technology that can be freely used by the people.

Kim focused his efforts on the economy, promising to create jobs and deregulate businesses. He proposed a dedicated government agency for regulatory innovation and increased investment in research and development. Kim has also pledged to invest more than five percent of the budget into research and development.

The debate comes at a critical time for South Korea, with the nation grappling with economic contraction and political instability following Yoon’s impeachment.

Lee currently holds a significant lead in the polls, with a recent Gallup Korea survey showing him at 51% compared to Kim’s 29%.

Earlier in the day, Lee proposed constitutional reforms that would allow for a four-year, two-term presidency and a two-round system for presidential elections, requiring a referendum. He further vowed to limit presidential power regarding the declaration of martial law and hold those responsible for Yoon’s December declaration accountable.

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