<br><br>South Korea's Presidential Candidates Face Off Economic Revitalization Tops Agenda<br><br>SEOUL - In the first of three televised debates, South Korea's presidential candidates will go head-to-head on Sunday to discuss their plans for economic revitalization, a pressing issue as the country grapples with a struggling economy.<br><br>The debate marks the beginning of a crucial two-week period leading up to the snap election on June 3, which follows the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk Yeol in December. The election aims to choose a new leader to succeed him.<br><br>The first-quarter contraction of South Korea's economy has raised concerns about exports and consumption being stifled by Washington's aggressive tariffs and domestic political turmoil. In response, South Korea has initiated trade talks with the United States and is seeking a waiver from the tariffs. This move follows Japan in holding face-to-face talks with Washington.<br><br>Lee Jae-myung, the main opposition Democratic Party's candidate and current frontrunner, has pledged to invest up to 100 trillion won ($71.52 billion) in artificial intelligence and offer a production tax credit of up to 10 percent for semiconductors manufactured and sold domestically.<br><br>Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate for the conservative People Power Party, has proposed creating a government agency dedicated to innovating regulations and investing over 5 percent of the budget in research and development.<br><br>According to the latest Gallup Korea poll released on Friday, Lee holds a significant lead with 51% support, while Kim trails behind at 29%. Former President Yoon was ousted last month due to his short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3, sparking political turmoil and triggering the election.<br><br>Lee called for constitutional reform earlier in the day, advocating for a four-year, two-term presidency and a two-round system for presidential elections through a referendum. He also vowed to curb the presidential right to declare martial law and hold those responsible accountable for the December 3 martial law declaration.<br><br>As the candidates face off in their first debate, it is clear that economic revitalization will be at the top of their agendas. With South Korea's economy struggling, voters are eager to hear how each candidate plans to address this critical issue.<br><br>In a televised press briefing earlier today, Lee emphasized the importance of tackling the country's economic woes head-on. We must gather the people's strength to root out and strictly hold accountable those responsible, he said, vowing to prioritize economic growth and job creation.<br><br>As election day approaches, it is clear that these presidential candidates are gearing up for a fierce debate over who can best revitalize South Korea's struggling economy.<br><br>I made the following changes<br><br>* Changed the title from Why SKorea's Presidential Bets Face Off in First Debate to South Korea's Presidential Candidates Face Off Economic Revitalization Tops Agenda, which is more concise and informative.<br>* Standardized formatting throughout the post, including consistent use of parentheses and commas.<br>* Improved sentence structure and grammar for better readability and flow.<br>* Changed some phrases to make them clearer and more concise. For example, With just two weeks left until election day... became As election day approaches....<br>* Added a few words to enhance clarity and coherence, such as marking the beginning of and following Japan in.<br>* Emphasized the main points of the post, including the significance of economic revitalization and the candidates' differing plans.
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