Rival parties slam each other over presidential candidate's Ukraine blunder

Main opposition People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol gestures during a public speech in Donghae, Gangwon Province, Monday. Joint Press Corps

Foreign policy emerging as hot campaign issue after DPK candidate's inappropriate remarks on Ukraine president

By Nam Hyun-woo

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) are clashing over DPK candidate Lee Jae-myung's controversial remark that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's lack of diplomatic experience incited Russia to invade.

In previous presidential elections, foreign affairs have rarely been major campaign issues. However, candidates in this election slated for March 9 have been exchanging salvos over each other's stance on foreign policy issues such as Russia's attack on Ukraine and Japan's Self-Defense Forces about its possible role in contingency.

Lee made the remarks during a televised debate on Friday in which he described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "a novice politician" and said that Zelenskyy is responsible for the armed clash as he incited Russia through hasty moves for Ukraine's admission into NATO.

He apologized later, saying his remarks he made were mainly aimed at pointing out Yoon's "ill-founded diplomatic and security views" rather than disparaging the Ukrainian president. Despite this, his remarks have gone viral on the internet locally and internationally, with Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko retweeting The Korea Times' previous article on Lee's remarks.

PPP presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol on Monday criticized Lee's remarks from the debate.

"Russia has launched an invasion of Ukraine a few days ago, which is a violation of international law," Yoon said during his campaign speech in Donghae, Gangwon Province. "However, the DPK is saying that 'a comedian-turned novice politician' has invited Russia to invade his country.'"

Yoon continued, "With Ukraine government officials fleeing the country, its people and president are resisting the invasion. In this situation, the DPK has rather hurt Ukrainians rather than helping them. Shame on him."

PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok also criticized Lee on Facebook for his remarks.

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"As the rest of the world point the finger at Russia as the instigator of war, (Lee) blamed Ukraine, in order to criticize Yoon. But what he said has backfired, causing him to become notorious worldwide for his inappropriate remarks."

During a PPP meeting on Monday, campaign chief Rep. Kwon Young-se also slammed Lee, saying, "If Lee is correct, it's fair to say that President Moon Jae-in has incited North Korea to fire missiles."

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung speaks during a canvassing event in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Monday. Joint Press Corps

The DPK strived to tone down Lee's backfired remarks, but it reemphasized Lee's explanation that Yoon's political inexperience will have a negative impact on his handling of issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula. Yoon is a political rookie who jumped into national politics by announcing his presidential bid last June and then joining the PPP a month later.

"We should not tolerate Russia's behavior of mobilizing its military power to damage others for its own interests," Lee said during a public speech in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, Monday.

"A leader must minimize an enemy's threat and maximize their nation's capability to respond, but what he does is the opposite. (Yoon) keeps inciting the enemy."

Lee was referring to Yoon's election pledges of enhancing South Korea's military capability and strengthening military ties with the U.S. in order to improve deterrence against North Korea.

DPK campaign committee chairman Lee Nak-yon also said, "A political group with no political experience, capability or philosophy cannot protect the peace and security of the country."

He added, "Peace and security require preparation and you cannot learn how to do that with hasty preparation."

Rep. Woo Sang-ho, the DPK's campaign co-chief, joined in on the criticism.

"The most important thing in this debate is Russia's invasion, which is the main cause, and (Lee) should have stressed this without further comment," Woo said during a radio interview. "However, it is also true that Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approached this issue in a hasty manner."

While defending Lee, the DPK criticized Yoon over his remarks during the TV debate that South Korea may allow the Japanese military to intervene in matters related to the Korean Peninsula.

Answering Justice Party presidential candidate Sim Sang-jung's question of whether Yoon will allow Japan's Self-Defense Forces to intervene in emergency matters related to the Korean Peninsula in the event that South Korea, the U.S. and Japan form a trilateral alliance, Yoon said, "the Japanese military may enter Korean soil, but I don't think of that as a prerequisite."

"Yoon should withdraw his remark and apologize to the public," DPK floor leader Yun Ho-jung said Monday. "Tomorrow will be the 103rd anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement. We should not let a candidate who does not have a basic understanding of South Korea-Japan relations to become president."