Article: “Campaigning for next president kicks off in South Korea“
As South Korea enters a new presidential election season, the race is expected to be extremely tight. The state’s current leader, Moon Jae-in, is a member of the Democratic Party, which would be taken over by Lee Jae-myung if the campaign wins. Lee Jae-myung’s main rival is Yoon Suk-yeol, the leader of the conservative People Power Party. Both of these candidates, however, have shown high disapproval ratings on both sides.
South Koreans are looking for a change in pressing issues such as polarized politics and corruption, the inflated housing market, and the increasing social inequality issues in the country. These topics, however, have not been the main focus of the election. Scandals and allegations of abuse of power and affairs have overshadowed the pressing issues.
It appears that Lee has put emphasis on his aggressive coronavirus policy and his push for universal basic income. Meanwhile, Yoon is newer to the political sphere but has been able to attract attention to his campaign due to his career as a prosecutor general investigating high-profile scandals involving the current South Korean president.
With the election set to take place on March 9th, the nation will be looking for a new leader to resolve a series of issues. Undoubtedly, one of the most pressing issues is right next door– North Korea. Tensions between South and North Korea have risen as North Korea continues to advance its nuclear weapons program. Yoon has spoken out against nuclear weapons, stating that his response would be to bolster South Korean military efforts. This may mean an increase in the military budget, and possibly strengthening ties with the US military alliance. Meanwhile, Lee would take a slightly different stance on the situation. He’s focused more on the internal divides and economy of South Korea, so his approach would be on improving ties with the north and working diplomatically. The current South Korean president had proposed reunification of the north and south by 2045, so seeing both candidates work towards improving relations with the state would be no surprise.
Regarding the social issues occurring in the country, the MOGEF (Ministry of Women and Family) has been a large topic of debate recently. The institution was put in place to provide education, social welfare, and family services. If Yoon takes office, he is likely to abolish the program. He spoke against the ministry, stating that it put men at a disadvantage, and consequently gained popularity in the polls. However, if Lee takes office, he is more likely to redirect funds within the program, providing more equality between the genders but continuing to close the gender wage gap. The MOGEF has largely caused South Korean voters to vote based on gender in this election, with the majority of men preferring Yoon, while more women have shown support towards Lee.
The Republic of Korea is a democratic republic, with 3 branches of government (executive, judicial, and legislative), with the President being the head of state. As a result of their government system, elections are held every 4 years, where adult citizens are able to vote for the next president. Elections are also held for more local leaders, such as governors, metropolitan mayors, and legislatures. This system is similar to that of the United States.