In less than two weeks time, this nation heads to the polls to elect a new president.
It's a snap presidential election that precipitated from the impeachment of an ex-president over
an alleged bribery scandal.
It's an election that bears the fruits of democracy that began out in the streets represented
by candlelights vigils.
Now, the Korean people will have make their decision based on a cut-short verification
period.
To help you better analyze each candidate, we've prepared a special one-on-one series.
Based on the number of parliamentary seats, we begin with Moon Jae-in, presidential nominee
of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Moon Jae-in, presidential nominee for Democratic Party of Korea running in South Korea’s
2017 presidential election, thank you for squeezing time out of your absolutely hectic
campaigning schedule.
So, you have worked at the nation’s top office as a key aide to late president Roh
Moo-hyun, you are a lawyer by training, in fact, you’ve spent your younger years as
an advocate for human rights.
After all that, you’re now running to take on one of the toughest jobs I can think of
- especially now than ever: the president of the Republic of Korea.
Why?
The Korean people declared victory after the April 19 Revolution in 1960 but it remained
an incomplete revolution due to a failure in politics.
Again, the June Resistance Movement in 1987 was a great victory of the people but remained
as another incomplete revolution having failed to achieve a change of government.
All throughout last winter, our people braved the cold outside with candles in their hands
leading a "candlelight" revolution.
Likewise, if we fail to achieve a change of government this time, this too will go down
history as an unfinished revolution.
Only when we achieve a change of government to one that reflects and honors the sentiment
of the people expressed by the candlelight rallies, will we be able to successfully complete
the "candlelight" revolution.
I can say with confidence that I am the right person who can best reflect and honor the
spirit of this age and carry with me the "candlelight" sentiment.
If I may, I would like to argue that I am the best-prepared presidential candidate who
can overcome the economic, security, and diplomatic crises facing the Republic of Korea.
The Korean peninsula at the moment is in the global spotlight.
There’s been a rapid escalation of tension in this part of the world.
Continuous provocations by the North Korean regime.
What is your policy pledge vis-a-vis Pyongyang?
First of all, I believe it is the leader's determination, philosophy, and execution that
are most important when it comes to dealing with security issues.
I come from a refugee family that fled North Korea during
the Korean War to escape the communist regime.
I proudly completed my military duty as a member of the Special Forces.
I have experience serving as a member of the presidential security policy meeting during
the Roh Moo-hyun administration and as the chairperson of the preparatory committee for
the Oct. 14, 2007 inter-Korean summit.
I was also part of the National Defense Committee in parliament.
Without doubt, I can call myself the most knowledgeable and experienced candidate in
security affairs.
If I'm elected president, I will closely work with the U.S. and China based on values of
the South Korea, U.S. alliance.
Through international collaboration, I will strongly pressure North Korea to abandon its
nuclear ambitions and bring them to the negotiations table.
The first step will involve leading North Korea to freeze its nuclear program followed
by the second step which will require a complete dismantlement of nuclear weapons and then
finally signing a peace agreement with North Korea and normalization of relations between
the North and the U.S
Economic growth and jobs.
It’s an issue that comes up every election season and not only here but all across the
globe.
You release one policy pledge every day under the title, "Change of government, change to
my life."
Do you have a blueprint of how you would steer Asia’s fourth-largest economy so that not
only will the macro economy pick up steam but the benefits will trickle down to the
ordinary people, too?
I believe job creation, quality job creation is the starting point of all economic policies,
policies for people's livelihoods.
The source of all crises in the Republic of Korea at the moment is a sluggish job market.
Slowing economic growth, polarization, low birthrate, aging society, despair among the
youths all stem from one problem: lack of quality jobs.
Therefore, I believe quality job creation is the solution to breathing life back into
the economy, to resolve problems in people's livelihoods, to tackle low birth rate, to
give hope to younger Koreans.
Hence, I pledge to become a jobs president.
No matter what I will take care of the sluggish job market.
First, the government and public institutions will play a leading role in creating more
new jobs in the public sector and encourage the private sector to follow the lead.
I will have a presidential committee for job creation and a situation board in my office
to directly check the job market on a daily basis.
This is the time for an economic paradigm shift for this country.
Up until now, the huge companies, the conglomerates and the rich were the ones taking benefits
from economic growth.
I believe it is now time for a new era where the benefits are also enjoyed by small and
medium-sized enterprises and the people.
In order to achieve that goal, we must carry out an economic paradigm shift to a "four-wheel
drive": job creation, mutual growth between large firms and SMEs, boost domestic consumption
through increase in household income, and innovative growth by a boom in startups through
the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
What about for Korean nationals living overseas: How will their lives change with Moon Jae-in
in the Blue House?
It was during the Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun administrations that the government began
to make policies for Korean nationals living overseas.
The goal was to guarantee the status of Koreans abroad and protect the rights of Korean nationals
living overseas.
And it was during the Roh administration that overseas Koreans were given the right to vote
in national elections.
If I'm elected president, I will make every effort to boost the legal status of overseas
Koreans and enhance their rights.
We now live in an era where no country, no city is safe from terrorism.
I will sign Overseas Koreans Protection Act into law to better protect the 7.2 million
Korean nationals living abroad and the 20 million-plus Koreans traveling around the
world.
I will also provide full support for Korean language schools abroad so that Korean youngsters
can better establish their identity as a Korean by learning the language and culture.
Finally, I will make sure Korean Consulates and Embassies abroad focus more on providing
necessary help and services to Koreans in respective cities or countries.
Proper legal consultation and assistance will also be provided to those in need.
Now, my final question; a common question to all candidates.
What is your edge over others?
Why does the Republic of Korea need Moon Jae-in as president in 2017?
There are two primary reasons.
One, I believe it is absolutely critical that we see a change of government; a government
that will properly carry out and reflect the sentiment expressed by the candlelight rallies.
I believe I am the perfect person to do just that.
Two, now more than ever, we need a president who is fully prepared to take on the job.
This nation is faced with crises on various fronts: economy, security, and diplomacy.
Not only that the new administration will not have the benefit of a presidential transition
team as we are going through a snap election precipitated by a sudden presidential impeachment.
There is no way the new administration can overcome all these crises if it is not fully
prepared.
The nation will once again face a failure in state affairs.
I already have experience working at the presidential office as chief-of-staff; I have experience
as the chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea and I've led the party to becoming
the largest party in parliament.
I am absolutely confident that I am better prepared for the job than anyone else.
Best of luck to you, Moon Jae-in and thank you for speaking with us today.
We appreciate it.