Seoul: The clock is ticking ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Koreans will head to the polls next Tuesday to cast their ballots, and in this final week, many undecided voters are still making up their minds. This last stretch is critical - a strong performance now could make or break a candidate's campaign. In a tight race like this, even minor missteps can trigger a domino effect, reshaping the political landscape. Candidates must be especially cautious with their words and actions, ensuring their statements are accurate and credible.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this rule of thumb has not been followed faithfully. Lies, gaffes, and unsubstantiated claims have become common in campaign speeches. Some of these errors, whether deliberate or accidental, even go unnoticed. Poorly chosen rhetoric not only damages a candidate's credibility but also leaves them vulnerable to attacks from their opponents.
Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), is no stranger to controversy. He has faced backlash over a series of contentious remarks on economic issues. For instance, he infuriated caf© owners by claiming that the raw cost of coffee beans per cup is just 120 won ($0.09), while some caf©s charge as much as 8,000 to 10,000 won per cup. Many caf© owners felt as if they were being portrayed as greedy profiteers exploiting their customers.
Lee's "hotel economics" has also faced strong pushback from economists. In an attempt to explain how money circulates in the economy, Lee described a scenario in which a tourist pays a 100,000 won deposit to a hotel. The hotel owner uses the money to pay off a debt to a furniture store, which then orders fried chicken from a local eatery, and so on. Lee argued that even if the deposit is eventually refunded, the temporary flow of money stimulates the economy. However, experts criticized the theory for overlooking real-world factors such as transaction costs and depreciation, calling it overly simplistic and misleading.
Lee's most recent misstep came on Sunday and involved Turtle Island, located in Lake Sihwa near Siheung, Gyeonggi Province. During a campaign speech, he touted a redevelopment project from his time as governor of Gyeonggi Province, claiming he had worked with the mayor of Siheung - who is still in office - to attract major investment and develop a surfing facility on the artificial island. "We persuaded the investor by offering favorable terms and streamlining the process. It took just two years from permit issuance to the completion of Waves Park," he boasted. However, Lee failed to fact-check his claims before speaking publicly. Today, Turtle Island is largely abandoned, with few tourists visiting. Of the roughly 3,200 shops built across the 166,613-square-meter area, nearly 90 percent are now shuttered. Lee's exaggerated portrayal of the project drew immediate and sharp criticism from political opponents.
People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo has also come under fire for misrepresenting his past actions. During the second televised debate held on Friday, his rival Lee claimed that Kim maintains ties with far-right activists and even shed tears when Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon - known for organizing conservative rallies in Gwanghwamun Square every weekend - was imprisoned. Kim denied the accusation, insisting that Lee's statement was false. "Did I shed tears because of him? No way," Kim said, warning that Lee could face serious legal consequences for making such false claims. However, Kim's denial is not supported by available evidence. YouTube videos show Kim becoming emotional during a speech at a rally on Dec. 29, 2019, shortly after prosecutors sought an arrest warrant for Jeon. "Pastor Jeon shouldn't be arrested. We shouldn't let it happen," Kim said, visibly holding back tears.
Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate of the minor Reform Party, is also responsible for spreading misinformation. During the same debate, he criticized DPK candidate Lee's pledge to collaborate with China and Japan to tackle fine dust pollution. Lee Jun-seok dismissed the idea, arguing that Japan would have little interest in the initiative since it is relatively unaffected by pollution originating in China. However, his claim is inaccurate. A 2019 report by the National Institute of Environmental Research indicates that approximately 25 percent of the fine dust affecting Japan originates from China.
Lies, gaffes, and unsubstantiated claims do a disservice to the candidates. They not only harm their campaigns and credibility but also diminish public trust in political discourse. Candidates are accountable not only for their actions but for their words as well.