Kim Yong-tae, chair of the People Power Party emergency response committee, said on the 20th, "I propose a TV debate for the spouses of presidential candidates before early voting (May 29-30)."
Chair Kim held an emergency press conference that morning and noted, "The first lady is not just the spouse of the president."
He added, "The role of the first lady has long been in a blind spot of verification in our politics. In the past, the issues concerning presidential spouses have delivered disappointment rather than hope to the people and have brought division rather than unity. This must change now."
Chair Kim proposed a TV debate between Mrs. Seol Nan-young and Mrs. Kim Hye-kyung, the two candidate spouses, and expressed his hope that they would sincerely share their views on policies for social minorities, including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, as well as on the role and responsibilities of the first lady in front of the public.
He continued, "This debate is not aimed at specific spouses. It is the first step toward elevating the level of political culture in South Korea and institutionalizing the public's right to know. The public should be able to judge not only the president they choose but also the person who will stand next to them, which is a common-sense request."
Chair Kim expressed his hope that the TV debate would take place before early voting and politely requested the Lee Jae-myung camp to clarify their position by the 23rd. He also looks forward to the Democratic Party of Korea's positive acceptance.