South Korea Election Turns Ugly Amid Scandals, Attacks \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ South Korea’s presidential race has unraveled into personal insults and political chaos following former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s exit. Liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung and conservative rival Kim Moon Soo traded fierce accusations during a combative final debate. Allegations over scandals, judicial bias, and chaotic candidacy shifts are overshadowing policy discussions ahead of June’s election.
Quick Looks
- Debate between Lee and Kim devolves into harsh insults.
- Lee links Kim to ousted President Yoon; Kim calls Lee authoritarian.
- Coffee shop remarks spark backlash over small business struggles.
- Kim avoids condemning Yoon’s martial law scandal and spouse’s scandals.
- Controversy erupts over judge’s alleged “room salon” visit.
- Failed conservative coalition effort exposes party infighting.
- Lee accused of manipulating judiciary as he faces criminal trials.
- South Korea’s winner-takes-all election format fuels tactical chaos.
Deep Look
South Korea’s Presidential Race Spirals into Chaos Amid Scandals, Insults, and Political Betrayals
With just days to go before South Koreans cast their ballots in a pivotal presidential election, the campaign trail has devolved into a maelstrom of personal attacks, character assassinations, and last-minute political upheaval. What could have been a defining moment for national policy direction has instead turned into an emotionally charged, scandal-ridden contest between liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung and embattled conservative Kim Moon Soo.
The chaotic race follows the dramatic ouster of former conservative president Yoon Suk Yeol, whose attempt to impose martial law during mass protests ended his term in disgrace. His political shadow, however, looms large over the current election—and over Kim Moon Soo, his former labor minister, who is now struggling to distance himself from the fallout.
From Policy to Personal Feuds
Tuesday night’s final presidential debate underscored the campaign’s descent into toxic rhetoric. Lee Jae-myung, of the liberal Democratic Party, accused Kim of being nothing more than “Yoon Suk Yeol’s avatar,” insinuating that Kim would act as a puppet ruler for the ousted president. In response, Kim accused Lee of embodying “monster politics,” warning that a Lee administration would usher in a new era of populist authoritarianism.
The verbal sparring, however, is only the surface of a much deeper political fracture. Instead of debates about economic policy, housing affordability, or geopolitical security, the public discourse has been consumed by controversies ranging from luxury handbags to karaoke bar outings to backroom political deals.
The Coffee Shop Controversy
Perhaps the most unexpected flashpoint of the campaign involved coffee—specifically, a comment Lee made about the profitability of running coffee shops compared to selling chicken porridge. At a campaign rally in Gunsan on May 16, Lee referenced his past policy as governor of Gyeonggi Province, when he relocated unlicensed vendors from popular streams and offered them pathways to legitimate business operations.
Citing the margin between bean costs (around 120 won or 9 cents) and retail prices (up to 10,000 won or $7.30), Lee argued that coffee sales could be more sustainable for small entrepreneurs. But in a country where independent cafés often represent the last refuge for struggling workers and entrepreneurs, his remarks were perceived as tone-deaf.
Kim Moon Soo’s People Power Party (PPP) seized on the moment, accusing Lee of trivializing the plight of small business owners. The controversy went viral, prompting a wave of backlash on social media and further cementing Lee’s reputation—at least among opponents—as an out-of-touch populist.
Lee later defended his comments, claiming his remarks were misrepresented and that his intent was to uplift self-employed workers, not diminish their struggles.
Yoon’s Lingering Presence—and Kim’s Silence
A critical vulnerability in Kim Moon Soo’s campaign has been his reluctance to directly criticize Yoon Suk Yeol, the disgraced former president under whose administration Kim served. When Yoon made a controversial public appearance at a screening of a documentary defending his martial law plans and falsely alleging liberal election fraud, Kim offered only a vague promise to “eliminate suspicions” if elected.
That muted response was pounced on by Lee Jae-myung, who accused Kim of opening the door for Yoon’s return to political relevance. During the debate, Lee went so far as to call Yoon a potential “shadow ruler” pulling Kim’s strings.
Compounding the issue are the corruption scandals surrounding Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee. The former first lady is currently under investigation for allegedly receiving luxury items—including two Chanel handbags and a Dior bag—from influential donors with business interests. Her name has also been linked to a stock manipulation scheme. Yet, Kim Moon Soo has refrained from addressing the issue, a silence critics say speaks volumes.
A ‘Room Salon’ Bombshell
Just when it seemed the scandals couldn’t get more salacious, Lee’s Democratic Party dropped a bombshell: allegations that the judge overseeing Yoon’s rebellion trial visited a “room salon,” a high-end, male-dominated karaoke bar often associated with influence peddling.
The judge, Jee Kui-youn, had previously approved Yoon’s release from prison and allowed him to remain free during trial—decisions that sparked outrage among liberals and progressives. Lee’s party claimed that Jee’s visit to the room salon raised serious ethical concerns and hinted at possible conflicts of interest.
Conservatives, however, dismissed the accusation as a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate the judiciary amid Lee’s own legal challenges. The liberal candidate currently faces five criminal cases, including allegations of bribery, influence peddling, and abuse of power.
Jee himself denied any wrongdoing and insisted that he, like many South Koreans, enjoys “samgyeopsal” (grilled pork belly) and “somaek” (beer mixed with soju) in his free time. Nevertheless, the damage to public perception was already done.
Failed Power Plays and Political Betrayal
South Korea’s lack of a runoff election means that vote consolidation among trailing candidates is often the key to victory. With Lee maintaining a strong lead in polls, conservative forces attempted a dramatic—and ultimately self-destructive—power play to unseat Kim Moon Soo as their nominee.
Believing that Han Duck-soo, Yoon’s former prime minister, had a better chance of defeating Lee, PPP officials convened emergency meetings late into the night to orchestrate a last-minute switch. The plan was to withdraw Kim’s nomination and back Han, an independent, as a unity candidate.
Party members rejected the plan in a subsequent vote, but the damage to Kim’s credibility was severe. He branded the attempt a “political coup” and accused his own party of betrayal. His subsequent efforts to forge a unity ticket with Lee Joon-seok, leader of a smaller conservative party, were met with rejection.
The failed maneuver revealed deep fractures within the conservative bloc, with Yoon loyalists prioritizing their own interests over unity—and in the process, weakening their own candidate.
Wider Implications for South Korea
This election comes at a time of heightened challenges for South Korea, from a stagnant economy and rising housing costs to escalating tensions with North Korea and global trade pressures. Yet, these critical issues have been drowned out by the theater of scandals and personal feuds.
Lee Jae-myung, despite the ongoing legal scrutiny, has managed to hold his base with bold economic proposals and a populist tone that appeals to working-class voters. Kim Moon Soo, meanwhile, has struggled to assert his independence and campaign on substance, instead becoming entangled in factional battles and legacy politics.
As early voting begins on Thursday ahead of the June 3rd election, voters are left to weigh not only the policies but also the credibility, integrity, and allegiances of each candidate. With democracy itself hanging in the balance after a failed martial law episode, the electorate faces a consequential choice—not just between left and right, but between the politics of vision and the politics of vendetta.
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