“Lee [Lee Jae-myung] has consistently called for a universal basic income. He is currently taking a rather soft position on the matter, saying he would not unilaterally push for the basic income policy without social consensus. But it is likely that he would put a stronger drive into introducing a basic income once elected. In contrast, Yoon [Yoon Suk-yeol] would shift the focus of economic policies to encouraging entrepreneurial growth over wealth distribution, introducing more business-friendly policies by easing regulations and offering tax incentives. If Yoon is elected, he would emphasize the principle that denuclearization should come first before inter-Korean cooperation, whereas Lee would continue the engagement policies pursued by the Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in governments. For other neighboring countries, Lee would try to strike a balance between China and the U.S. amid their growing rivalry, but it would be hard to expect that bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan could improve under Lee's leadership, as he is focused on the historical issues between the countries. For Yoon, it is obvious that he would be committed to strengthening the South Korea-U.S. alliance and improving relations with Japan, considering the figures selected as members of his election camp.”
01 Jan 2022
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