Understanding the Criteria for Presidential Debate Participation
Every election season, viewers often wonder why certain presidential candidates appear on televised debates repeatedly, while others remain absent despite officially registering. The reason lies in the stringent legal criteria set for presidential debate participation.
Analyzing South Korea’s Presidential Debate Criteria: Impacts on Democracy and Calls for Reform 👆The Legal Framework: Criteria for Presidential Debates
Not all presidential candidates have the privilege of participating in televised debates, particularly those broadcast on major networks. According to South Korea’s Public Official Election Act, Article 82-2, candidates must meet specific criteria to be considered “invited candidates.” These criteria include:
1. The candidate’s political party must hold at least five seats in the National Assembly.
2. The party must have received at least 3% of the votes in any of the last presidential, parliamentary, or local elections.
3. The candidate must have an average approval rating of 5% or more in opinion polls.
Meeting any one of these criteria qualifies a candidate for participation in prime-time televised debates.
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Under the 2025 presidential election guidelines, only four candidates met the criteria to participate in the televised debates. Lee Jae-myung from the Democratic Party and Kim Moon-soo from the People Power Party satisfied the criteria based on their party’s National Assembly seats and past election performance. Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party qualified through his approval ratings, despite his party lacking sufficient seats. Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party met the criteria due to his party’s past vote share exceeding 3%.
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Candidates like Gu Ju-hwa (Freedom Unification Party), Hwang Kyo-ahn (Independent), and Song Jin-ho (Independent), did not meet any of the criteria. Consequently, they are classified as “non-invited candidates” and are allowed to participate in only one debate, typically scheduled late at night, often past 10 PM or even midnight. Such timings lead to reduced viewership and limited public exposure, as highlighted by Heo Kyung-young’s dissatisfaction during the 2022 elections.
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Although legally sanctioned, the current criteria are criticized for favoring established parties, making it challenging for new parties or independent candidates to compete. The requirement of holding five parliamentary seats is nearly impossible for new parties. Similarly, achieving a 5% approval rating is difficult without significant media exposure. Critics argue this system restricts political diversity and fair competition.
Understanding South Korea’s Presidential Candidate Number Assignment: Process, Legal Framework, and Strategic Importance 👆Possibilities for Reform
While practical constraints prevent all candidates from sharing a single debate stage, the current system’s approach of providing only a single opportunity to non-invited candidates is seen as inequitable. Suggestions for reform include ensuring fairer broadcast times, offering multiple debate opportunities for non-invited candidates, and making debates easily accessible through major platforms. Given the identical registration requirements and deposits for all candidates, equitable speaking opportunities are increasingly demanded.
Presidential elections are not merely about voting but involve informed decision-making by the public. It is time to reassess whether the current debate criteria uphold political fairness and voter access to information. By leveling the playing field for all candidates, we can ensure the realization of true democracy.
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