Seoul Mayoral Debate: Who Will Dodge?

As the May 2026 Seoul mayoral election approaches, candidates' participation in TV debates has emerged as a key issue. Criticism is mounting that the hesitant movements of some candidates to join debate sessions infringe upon the public's right to know.

Thorough vetting of candidates is essential in elections, a core driving force of democracy. The Seoul mayoral election is crucial enough to influence the future of Seoul, the capital, and the direction of the entire nation, thus highlighting the role of TV debates as a tool for candidate verification.

TV debates are the only means to directly verify a candidate's policy capabilities, administrative skills, crisis response abilities, character, values, and integrity live. A candidate's true abilities and depth are fully exposed, unlike what can be conveyed through speeches or policy papers, and their limitations become clear if they fail to answer spontaneous questions logically.

Candidates who are ill-prepared tend to find debates, where image politics can crumble, burdensome. Unlike repeating messages crafted by their campaign teams, debates in the face of unexpected pressure questions and arguments reveal the candidate's own thinking process and substance. When challenging an incumbent mayor, the debate itself can be a significant burden as challenger candidates must concretely prove they can do a better job.

Public questions are growing regarding why candidates are reluctant to undergo public scrutiny. There are concerns that this could stem from insufficient policy preparation, a lack of ability to respond to current issues, or a deficiency in overall vision for operating Seoul.