South Korean voters must choose ‘lesser of two evils’

SOUTH KOREA heads to the polls today for a closely fought presidential election after a bitter few months of campaigning marred by scandals, insults and accusations of misogyny.

Lee Jae-myung, the ruling liberal Democratic Party candidate, and Yoon Suk-yeol, of the conservative main opposition People Power Party, were neck and neck in a vote that will shape the 10th largest economy’s position on North Korea’s nuclear belligerence and China’s rising regional influence.

Whoever wins – Mr Lee, a former provincial governor who aspires to be a “successful Bernie Sanders” or Mr Yoon, a former chief prosecutor – will have to work hard to gain public trust.

Mr Yoon has denied accusations he relies on fortune tellers and involvement in alleged political meddling.

Mr Lee offered to pull down his trousers in a TV debate – he is said to have a distinctive black mole – after a rival raised allegations of an extramarital affair and has denied claims of links to a corrupt land development deal.

Opinion polls show both candidates have more critics than supporters. “Isn’t our national future too bleak with an unpleasant and bitter presidential election that calls for choosing the lesser of two evils?” asked an editorial in the Dong-a Ilbo newspaper.

The biggest issue from an international perspective is what stance they take on North Korea and China.

Both favour engagement with Pyongyang to curb its nuclear weapons programme, said Katharine Moon, professor of political science, at Wellesley College, US. But while Mr Lee would consider talks without prior concessions, the more hardline Mr Yoon would seek “verifiable efforts at denuclearisation”.