A week before the June 3 presidential election, the final TV debate held on the 27th featured Lee Jae-myung, candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea, and Kim Moon-soo, candidate for the People Power Party, clashing over the assessment of the December 3 martial law and the responses at the time. Candidate Lee targeted Kim, saying, "You keep insisting it’s not an act of insurrection," while Kim responded, "We should judge according to the court's decision on the insurrection charge."

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea (from left), Kwon Young-guk, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Labor Party, Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate of the Reform Party, pose for a photo after attending a political field TV debate held at the MBC studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 27th. /News1

The debate in the MBC studio in Mapo-gu, Seoul, held at 8 p.m. that day, focused on the topic of 'politics,' with discussions centering on the stance and response regarding the 'December 3 martial law.'

Candidate Lee said, "Today, I want to engage in a debate as much as possible with candidate Kim Moon-soo. It’s the most important thing," and posed a question to Kim.

He said, "The most important task of this era is to overcome insurrection. Former President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law with the intent to monopolize power and prevent their corruptive crimes, stating, do you think it should have been revoked or not?"

Candidate Kim responded, "I fundamentally oppose martial law itself," stating, "In 1972 during the Yushin regime, we suffered due to martial law, and in 1980, we became targets of the Saemangeum Education due to martial law," asserting that martial law should have been revoked.

In response to Lee’s point that nothing happened in the plenary session about demands for an apology for the martial law by Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Young-kyo during his time as Minister of Employment and Labor, Kim retorted, "That’s a kind of mob trial; it’s a form of violence and not an apology."

Lee then asked, "Next, I will ask if you agree with the impeachment and dismissal of former President Yoon, and his arrest."

To this, Kim replied, "Former President Yoon has lost his position due to impeachment at the Constitutional Court. However, there were some procedural issues during the impeachment process, but in any case, he was dismissed, and I acknowledge that, which is why I am running as a candidate."

Lee asked again, "Are you implying that you think the impeachment of (former President Yoon) was justified?" to which Kim responded, "Isn’t it? The Constitutional Court has made a ruling on it."

Then Lee pressed, "This must be asked. (Kim) kept asserting it wasn't an act of insurrection. It wasn't a state of war. The procedures weren't followed; there were no Cabinet meetings, no proper communications, and the National Assembly was invaded, along with the arbitrary restriction of citizens' fundamental rights. If this isn't insurrection, then what is?"

In response, Kim stated, "I have never said it was not an act of insurrection." He emphasized, "The trial regarding the insurrection charge is currently ongoing at the Seoul Central District Court, and we must judge based on its outcome. Lee Jae-myung always claims it’s insurrection from the start. Whether it’s insurrection or not can only be determined when the verdict comes out."

He then argued, "Martial law is martial law, and insurrection is different. However, people mix up these concepts and unconditionally label others as insurrectionists. Speaking of individuals with no connection to insurrection as 'accomplices or supporters of insurrection' is severe verbal violence."