South Korea’s presidential race marred by scandals and fierce rivalries

South Korea’s presidential election has devolved into a heated battle filled with personal attacks and trivial disputes, overshadowing substantive policy discussions. The turmoil followed the controversial removal of former conservative leader Yoon Suk Yeol, who faced backlash over his handling of martial law.

In the final debate, tensions peaked as liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung accused conservative Kim Moon Soo of being a mere extension of Yoon, while Kim branded Lee as a sign of looming dictatorship and corrupt politics.

One controversy centered around Lee’s comment during a campaign event in Gunsan, where he compared running coffee shops to a profitable business, noting that coffee prices vastly exceeded the cost of beans. This remark sparked backlash among small business owners, who felt offended by the perceived trivialization of their struggles in a difficult economic climate. Kim’s party seized the opportunity to accuse Lee of being out of touch with small entrepreneurs, while Lee defended himself, saying his intention was to highlight efforts to support vendors’ transition to legitimate businesses.

Kim avoided directly criticizing Yoon’s contentious martial law decree, drawing fire from Lee, who highlighted scandals involving Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee. She is under investigation for allegedly receiving luxury gifts from a church official seeking favors, adding to previous allegations involving expensive designer bags and stock manipulation.

The election also spotlighted the “room salon” scandal — a symbol of South Korea’s male-centric nightlife. A judge involved in Yoon’s rebellion trial was accused of visiting one such venue with unknown companions, raising questions about judicial impartiality. The judge denied wrongdoing, stating he enjoys ordinary leisure activities.

On the political front, efforts by conservative factions to unify candidates in order to better challenge Lee failed, culminating in internal party chaos. A late attempt to replace Kim Moon Soo with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was rejected by party members, leaving Kim to maintain his candidacy despite the turmoil.

As the election approaches, the bitter conflicts and scandals continue to dominate headlines, leaving voters to decide between starkly opposed visions for South Korea’s future.