South Korea’s Presidential Candidates Clash in First Debate
Nothing surprising appears to have come out of the first Korean Presidential debate; Lee Jae-myung thinks orange man is bad and Korea shouldn’t be in a hurry to make a trade deal while Kim Moon-soo says holding an immediate summit with Trump would be a top priority:
The specter of trade negotiations with the United States under President Donald Trump loomed large Sunday night as Korea’s presidential hopefuls offered sharply divergent strategies during their inaugural televised debate.
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate, advocated for a measured, interest-driven path in dealing with Washington, while Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party championed a rapid, trust-based summit approach.
Lee said there was “no need to rush” into an agreement.
“The foremost principle in trade negotiations is to prioritize the national interest,” he said. “We shouldn’t feel compelled to concede just because the United States makes demands.”
He stressed the value of strategic patience, pointing to Japan and China as examples of countries that have successfully employed this approach.
“Japan, which initially demanded early negotiations, has taken a step back. China also set strong conditions before ultimately adjusting its position. We need to navigate this wisely, too,” he said.
Lee added that Korea should seize the moment to pivot away from export dependency and steadily increase domestic demand.
You can read more at the link.
Whoops, I shared my thoughts on this in the other thread. Didn’t realize your post was coming up so soon. I’ll re-comment here if that’s ok! 🙂
The key takeaway for me was Lee Jun Seok stood out a lot to me. He knew everything he wanted to say and backed everything up, while also debating really well. He also crushed Lee Jae Myung (as expected) and made him look really tiny.
Lee Jae Myung is really a problem. He makes all these bold claims and can’t back any single one of them with rationale or how to go about it. He just makes conclusions without arguing for it and that is why he’s just called a populist. Lee Jun Seok really shed light on this about Lee Jae Myung, which was really refreshing. Lee Jae Myung would fight back and say that Lee Jun Seok is looking at it too simply or that he’s looking at things too extremely. But, Lee Jun Seok’s counter to that is that he’s simply regurgitating Lee Jae Myung’s own statements word for word. It’s ironic because Lee Jae Myung himself is making the claims in the extreme or too simply. He’s a complete fraud.
See for yourself.
https://youtu.be/_bGpvQJjqLs?si=Hye8EwSge2aUPF64
Oh and we all know Lee Jae Myung’s motive for wanting to hold off on U.S. talks. It’s so that we don’t upset NK or the CCP. It’s blatantly obvious. His wording is just to convince idiots.
It’s blatantly obvious to you because you’re a Yoonie, a Korean Maggot wannabe, that cannot be part of the exclusive club of Trumpies.
No country is eager to talk to an unhinged Oranged person who cannot stick to any deals that he has made in the past and present. It was Donald Trump in 2018 who signed the FTA with South Korea, after he broke the same treaty that was signed in 2008. Signing yet another deal with him isn’t going to help Korea one bit.
Name one country other than SK (under the current right-wing Yoon party) that rushed to deal with this lunatic? Even Japan wised up lately when they realized that they can’t negotiate with a side that doesn’t even know what they want or are demanding (other than ordering countries to move all their industries and jobs to the US).
Canada, the EU, and even China, all let the US sweat it out, knowing full well what the consequences of their tariffs on the entire world will ensue. This is not even rocket science, to wait this out, until the unreasonable side collapses from within. The stupidity of the Korean right to eager to please the Orange administration is what is wrong with Korea right now.
Navigating Trump’s Tariff Diplomacy: Lessons from Global Reactions
Since his entry into the political arena, former U.S. President Donald Trump has pursued a foreign policy heavily shaped by economic nationalism. Central to this approach has been the aggressive use of tariffs as a negotiating tool — not purely for protectionism, but as leverage to force trade partners into new bilateral deals. Understanding how to respond effectively to Trump’s unpredictable and highly personalized style of diplomacy is critical for countries whose economies are closely tied to the U.S.
During his 2016–2020 presidency, Trump made clear that he prefers bilateral deals over multilateral agreements, values immediate, visible victories, and punishes perceived disrespect or delay. His method resembles that of a dealmaker who opens with extreme demands, applies pressure, and settles once he’s extracted something — even if only symbolic. Several countries experienced this firsthand, and their varying outcomes offer a roadmap for future engagement.
Mexico and Canada: Quick Action Prevented Chaos
When Trump threatened to tear up NAFTA, Mexico and Canada quickly came to the table. Despite initial tension, they worked to renegotiate, resulting in the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement). Both countries granted limited concessions, but preserved essential access to the U.S. market. They understood Trump’s desire for a headline victory and strategically gave him what he wanted in optics, without losing the core benefits of the original deal.
South Korea: Quiet Concessions, Maximum Preservation
South Korea also moved swiftly when targeted by U.S. steel tariffs and threats to the KORUS FTA. Seoul quietly negotiated adjustments to quotas and minor trade terms while avoiding broader retaliation. As a result, Korea retained favorable trade access, avoided escalation, and minimized economic damage. Importantly, South Korea avoided making the dispute public or political, understanding Trump’s sensitivity to defiance.
China: Defiance Led to Costly Conflict
China initially responded with a wait-and-see strategy, assuming Trump’s threats were bluster. When trade war threats escalated, Beijing retaliated in kind. The result: billions in tariffs, prolonged uncertainty, and only a partial resolution via the Phase 1 trade deal. While China maintained its sovereignty, the economic damage was substantial. Trump leveraged the trade conflict to boost his domestic image, portraying China as a strategic rival unwilling to play fair.
European Union: Slowness and Division Led to Pressure
The European Union also took a cautious, slow-moving approach, expecting international norms and institutions to constrain Trump. This backfired. The U.S. imposed steel and aluminum tariffs on the EU, and threats were made against auto imports. The EU’s inability to move quickly or provide Trump with a “deal moment” meant lingering tension and no significant resolution.
Japan: The Masterclass in Quiet Diplomacy
Japan avoided the worst of Trump’s trade fury by engaging discreetly and early. It negotiated a limited trade deal that focused on agriculture and digital trade — giving Trump a public win while shielding Japan’s key industrial exports. Crucially, Japan avoided provoking Trump, never posturing or making the process adversarial.
What Strategy Works Best?
From these examples, a clear pattern emerges:
Engage Early – Don’t wait for pressure to mount.
Give a Symbolic Concession – Let Trump declare victory.
Keep Talks Private and Low-Drama – Public defiance triggers punishment.
Avoid Full Confrontation – Delay or resistance risks deeper tariffs.
South Korea’s Best Path Forward
South Korea is in a unique position: a vital U.S. ally, a key trade partner, and a regional counterbalance to North Korea and China.
Seoul must continue the strategy that worked in 2018:
Move quickly to open dialogue at the first sign of trade pressure. Allow minor, reversible concessions that Trump can tout as wins. Avoid public statements of opposition or reliance on multilateral institutions alone. Emphasize the security and economic interdependence of the U.S.–Korea alliance, which Trump respects when framed in economic terms.
South Korea’s strength lies in its agility and pragmatism. By combining early engagement, symbolic flexibility, and quiet diplomacy, Korea can protect its interests without being drawn into damaging confrontations — a playbook that’s proven effective in the past and remains its best tactic going forward.
Given the prevalence of “haggling” over prices in various markets around South Korea, I am surprised South Korea did not beat Japan to the mark.
Trump is really not unpredictable, either. He is 100% America First, so negotiating a win/win deal is easy for “playas”. The end result just needs to not be one-sided against the USA as most trade deals done by Democrats and globalists had been in the past.
One-sided deals never last, so Trump doesn’t want any that favor America to the detriment of the deal lasting a long time.
You’re extremely misinformed, “Korean Man.” I actually don’t like Yoon nor am I extremely fond of Trump. But I am, anti-CCP. 🙂
Joshua Lee, I will ask you the same thing I ask everybody who is not a Trump fan.
Why?
The answers I get fit into several categories:
– mean tweets, unpresidential, convicted fellon, vindictive, narcissistic
– racist, sexist, fascist, Islamahomotransxenophobic
– does illegal stuff, doesn’t follow due process, convicted fellon, incited insurrection
– undermines allies for America’s benefit, unjustly uses America’s power
– no policy, doesn’t know anything, anti-science, failed businessman
– Russian asset and related insanity
The answers I don’t get are:
– I hate how he is fighting for America first.
– I hate how he is fighting anti-American globalism and trying to make America self-reliant.
– I hate how he is extracting America from entangling alliances with large obligations but little benefit.
– I hate how he is reducing the size and arbitrary power of government over Americans.
– I hate how he encourages merit, success, and prosperity
– I hate how he persues deals instead of war
– I hate how he is protecting successful American culture from an influx of failed cultures from failed nations
– I hate how he is reducing needless government regulations that were designed and promoted by big business to stifle competition
– I hate how he is fighting againt failed catch-and-release policies on criminals which we are watching fail society from Seattle to Los Angeles
– I hate how he is leaving agreements designed to restrict American success while ignoring the actions of America’s competitors and enemies
– I hate how he is transactional on everything instead lf being generous
– I hate how he is demanding America’s allies contribute more to their security
– I hate how he encourages true education over indoctrination
…or anything else like this.
I can understand not liking the man, Trump (though there is a great deal of evidence his actual personality is somewhat different from cultivated public persona).
But his personality neither benefits nor harms his distractors and fretting about this is self-destructive.
The one metric he should be judged by is if his America First policy is making America a better place.
If the activist courts will stop blocking his very clear and structured agenda, chances are America will be far more prosperous both in the short and long term.
So, not from a petty personal standpoint, but from a larger policy standpoint for the benefit of America and the majority of Americans, what is Trump doing that makes people not a fan?
Preston Tucker… all that was written, but nothing really substantive other than false facts. With all that Japan rushing to “negotiate” with Trump, how did that work out so far? Auto tariffs against Japanese car imports are gone? Nope. This is Japan Time on the real result (not some fantasy negotiation with a fcking huge chip on its shoulders and a leadership that’s reminiscent of Kim Jung Un level dystopia). You don’t negotiate with someone who offers no benefits in return.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/05/16/economy/tariff-half-baked/
So, is it a better place now? Walmart, told to eat the tariffs, is going bankrupt and shedding thousands of jobs, signaling a rush out of the US by multi-national companies that cannot do business in the US.
US bonds and the US dollar are crashing with no end in sight, as foreign investor pull all their money out, knowing that doing business in America is untenable. US credit rating, for the fist time, in one hundred years, gets downgraded from a perfect score to AA level. This never ever happened before.
And then to top off everything, the US immigration and homeland security department is putting on a TV reality show where brown immigrants in Guantanamo Bay concentration camp (formerly where Middle Eastern terrorists were imprisoned and tortured) are forced to fight to the death, for the privilege of getting a US permanent residency – copying the Squid Game Netflix show.
Talk about utter dystopia of the KKK MAGA Neo Nazi kind. For those people of that kind, your dream has come true.
Canada, Australia, and now Romania – what do they all have in common? They all had right-wing MAGA copycat parties soundly defeated in the local elections, after those citizens woke up and realized what their countries would also look like if they let the Trump ideology penetrate their society unchecked. South Korea is the next country on the test bed. Is South Korea going to elect a party that tried to disappear people, tried to install a military government, and ordered its soldiers to arrest and kill the opposing people? I don’t see it, Preston and Joshua Lee. You guys can dream on, though.
Refuting a Fantasy: The Collapse Narrative Doesn’t Hold Up
Korea Man’s political diatribe paints a surreal picture of an America supposedly collapsing under right-wing ideology, economic ruin, and authoritarian rule. While emotionally charged, this narrative collapses under the weight of its own exaggerations and falsehoods. Let’s address each of its claims head-on — not with hyperbole, but with reality.
1. “Walmart is going bankrupt from tariffs.”
This is fiction. Walmart is not only solvent — it’s thriving. With continued growth in e-commerce, logistics, and private-label strategy, Walmart’s quarterly earnings have exceeded expectations. There is no sign of bankruptcy, no mass exodus of multinationals from the U.S., and no economic implosion related to tariff policy. The claim is pure fearmongering, unsupported by financial reports or market behavior.
2. “The U.S. dollar and Treasury bonds are crashing with no end in sight.”
This is a fundamental misunderstanding of global finance. The U.S. dollar is still the world’s dominant reserve currency and flight-to-safety asset. Treasury bond demand remains robust, especially in volatile times. While yields and credit spreads fluctuate, there is no “crash.” If foreign investors truly believed the U.S. was economically toxic, they wouldn’t be buying U.S. debt by the trillions. The markets contradict this claim entirely.
3. “U.S. credit downgrade is unprecedented.”
Wrong. The U.S. was downgraded in 2011 by S&P — under a Democratic administration, in fact. Downgrades are not signs of collapse; they’re political warnings about governance and debt policy. America still enjoys lower borrowing costs than nearly any major country and remains the cornerstone of the global financial system.
4. “Guantanamo Bay hosts Squid Game-style immigrant death matches.”
This is unhinged fantasy, not even satire. There is no such program, no such policy, no such event. To suggest that the U.S. government is holding televised death matches for immigration is an insult to serious discourse — a grotesque attempt to weaponize fiction as if it were reporting. It is designed solely to shock and has no place in an honest conversation.
5. “MAGA is a white supremacist neo-Nazi movement.”
This is a smear — not an argument. MAGA represents a massive swath of the American electorate — working-class citizens, small business owners, veterans, minority voters — people who support national sovereignty, fair trade, law enforcement, and economic growth. You can disagree with MAGA’s policies, but to equate it with Nazism or the KKK is dishonest and degrading. Such claims are often made by those who have no interest in understanding what motivates populist support — only in silencing it.
6. “Canada, Australia, and Romania rejected MAGA copycats.”
None of these countries had actual “MAGA copycat” governments. Canada’s Trudeau remains in power due to a fractured opposition, not because he vanquished Trumpism. Australia’s election turned on domestic energy and labor policy, not imported slogans. Romania’s political cycle was shaped by internal corruption and economic instability. These were local elections about local issues — not global ideological revolutions.
7. “South Korea is heading toward fascism.”
False. South Korea is a resilient democracy. The ruling party has not installed a military regime, nor has it ordered the disappearance of opposition. These claims are hyperbolic and disconnected from fact. South Koreans will vote in a free, competitive election — as they always have — and political change, if it comes, will come through democracy, not dictatorship.
Conclusion
This narrative of American — and global — collapse under right-wing populism is not just inaccurate. It’s a symptom of political hysteria, where disagreement becomes villainy and policy becomes apocalypse. If you care about democracy, you should care about truth. And truth demands we reject wild conspiracy theories and deal in facts, not fantasy. We don’t have to agree politically. But we should all agree to stop substituting rage for reality.
Tariff Diplomacy: Why the U.S. Holds the Upper Hand in Negotiations with Japan
The current round of U.S.–Japan trade negotiations has reignited long-standing debates over economic leverage, alliance dynamics, and national priorities. At the center of the dispute are U.S. tariffs on Japanese automotive imports and Japan’s urgent push to reverse them. While some critics paint these negotiations as reckless or imbalanced, a closer look reveals a reality in which the United States is negotiating from a position of strength, both economically and strategically.
Economic Leverage Is Tilted Toward the U.S.
The most immediate reason for America’s stronger position is simple: the U.S. imports far more from Japan than it exports. That trade imbalance grants the U.S. considerable leverage. By imposing a 25% tariff on imported Japanese cars and auto parts, the United States is targeting one of the cornerstones of Japan’s export economy. Japan’s automotive giants — Toyota, Honda, Nissan — are heavily reliant on access to the U.S. market. These tariffs create significant pressure on Japanese industry and, by extension, the Japanese government.
Meanwhile, the U.S. consumer economy is vast and relatively self-sufficient. Though Americans value Japanese vehicles, the U.S. auto sector is increasingly bolstered by domestic production, electric vehicle investment, and North American manufacturing alliances. In short, the U.S. can afford a disruption in Japanese imports more than Japan can tolerate losing U.S. demand.
Strategic Timing and Negotiation Control
Equally important is the control the U.S. has over the timing and terms of the negotiation. The Trump administration’s use of tariff threats — including the recent temporary 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs — places Japan in a reactive position. Tokyo is left asking for relief, not setting the rules. Washington can escalate or relax trade penalties at will, a classic case of one party holding more “cards” in the negotiation.
This asymmetry extends beyond economics. By targeting Japan first, the U.S. may also be pursuing a broader strategic objective: to pressure allied exporters one by one, using Japan as a litmus test. If Japan quickly accepts unfavorable terms, it sets a precedent — and sends a message to the EU, South Korea, and others that similar deals may follow. That calculated pressure is a hallmark of hard-nosed but effective U.S. trade diplomacy.
Japan’s Limited but Notable Leverage
That said, Japan is not entirely without influence. As a key strategic ally in the Pacific, it plays a central role in U.S. defense posture in Asia, especially amid rising tensions with China and North Korea. Too much pressure could alienate Japan diplomatically and create cracks in the alliance architecture the U.S. depends on.
Moreover, Japanese automakers employ thousands of Americans through U.S.-based manufacturing plants. These operations create domestic jobs, support local economies, and contribute to U.S. GDP. Tariffs that hurt Japanese firms could also backfire politically by driving up car prices or leading to U.S. job cuts — an outcome no administration wants during an election cycle.
Japan could also seek alignment with other trade partners — such as the EU or South Korea — to present a more unified counterweight. But such coordination is time-consuming and difficult, and the U.S. has historically preferred — and succeeded at — dealing with trade partners one at a time, where its leverage is strongest.
Conclusion: The U.S. Has the Advantage — For Now
As things stand, the United States holds the upper hand in the current negotiations. It controls the tariffs, dictates the pace, and faces fewer short-term risks. Japan is under pressure to maintain access to the U.S. market — not the other way around. And while Japan has important diplomatic and economic leverage, it is currently operating from a defensive posture.
Critics may decry this as heavy-handed or unfair, but it is standard realpolitik. In trade — as in diplomacy — leverage matters and Trump is unafraid to use it. The U.S. is using its leverage to extract better terms, protect its industries, and rebalance its trade relationships. Whether one agrees with the style or not, the substance of the strategy is clear, calculated, and effective.
@ChickenHead: To clarify MY view on Trump.. it’s really simple.. is that I am definitely a fan of his America-first policy and recognize his sincerity/passion for wanting to rebuild America. We haven’t had a president who prioritized our own country in a long time so I fully support him on that. I also like his aggressive stance on the CCP, among other issues and countries, to get things back on track (the US-first way). It’s his “no-filter” personality that irks me sometimes. He has the highest seat in the nation and he needs to maintain a certain character. His comments, let’s be real… can be very off-putting.. regardless of whether you’re left, middle, or right..
“It’s his “no-filter” personality that irks me sometimes. He has the highest seat in the nation and he needs to maintain a certain character. His comments, let’s be real… can be very off-putting.. regardless of whether you’re left, middle, or right.”
I believe that answer was on my checklist.
That is insanity.
Here is a guy working hard for the success of America and Americans and everyone is whiny because he is straightforward with people and institutions who have smiled, been diplomatic, and stabbed America in the back at every chance.
A subset of low-information, low-intelligence Americans focus on the wrong things because the teevee told them to.
The only thing that matters is results.
The opinions of Eurotards and Snowtards and Mexican’ts and all the empty-handed third world subhumans mean nothing. They are destructive to America by default and considering their opinion is not in America’s best interests.
Trump frees us from that baggage. His attitude is not off-putting. It is glorious.
Contrary to all the sensitive little snowflakes who don’t like his mean tweets, he could be even more direct.
America is in a position of dominance and power but runs the risk of losing it through continued squandering, pùssyfooting, and taking dìck instead of saying no.
Trump’s lack of fake bullshìt diplomacy is a strength and a point of American pride.
Dig it or fùck off is the way the world needs to be treated.
They are crying but they are slowly digging it because Trump gives them no choice.
Anybody advocating for a president to be sweet and nice to those looking to harm America clearly has no idea of that history of failure. They need to start with Carter who was everything they complain Trump lacks. It got him nowhere with people who see kindness as weakness.
To be taken seriously, people need to talk results… and really only long-term results, as America has so many enemies foreign and domestic, short term results are a series of hard-fought wins and sabotage-based failures.
@ChickenHead: I understand your POV. Trump’s a results-oriented guy who doesn’t shy away from speaking his mind and he does it with confidence and grit. That’s a true leader. But, the reality is.. it’s going to be a major turn off for some people. Not everyone can handle a personality like his. So you have to acknowledge the fact that while his motives are for the proper reasons in terms of securing national interests and what not, he’s just not going to be likeable by everyone.
Joshua Lee, I understand that.
But how can I have any respect for someone who has such a lack of judgement they will sabotage themselves because their feelings are hurt… and it isn’t even their feelings. Their feeling are hurt because they witnessed their enemy’s feelings get hurt and the teevee told them that’s mean and unpresidential.
Trump talks most of his smack to people who are trying to sabotage American prosperity and success which greatly benefits the vast majority of Americans.
Normally, I don’t care about everyone’s lack of awareness, inability to see a bigger picture, and self-destructive dysfunction. But after watching these nutjobs get empowered like the Brownshirts of covid, I wish nothing but extermination on them.
That same demographic is now weaponized towards Trump personally rather than professionally. Their sabotage of America affects me personally, and I don’t want it.
All the little snowflakes have to worry more about the future of America and worry less about the feelings of fraudsters, wasters, abusers, and groomers.
@ChickenHead: That’s fine! You do you! I applaud respect you for having a firm stance on your view of Trump. I do like him more than I dislike him, if that makes you feel better? 🙂
❤️