Since the 'December 3rd Martial Law' that shook South Korea, the society has plunged into turmoil. For the first time in constitutional history, a sitting president has been arrested and detained, and the Constitutional Court is currently conducting impeachment proceedings. A criminal trial related to President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'insurrection charges' will also be held soon. This issue has amplified conflicts across the political sphere and throughout South Korean society, with 'political polarization' deepening.
There are also ongoing indiscriminate attacks on the judiciary. The Western District Court has been attacked, and some far-right YouTubers are targeting the Constitutional Court as the next target after the Western District Court, raising concerns that the rule of law is collapsing.
Amid the ongoing political chaos in the country, the second term of the Trump administration in the United States has begun, and a 'trade war' is intensifying, putting South Korean society in a position facing more serious challenges than ever before, both domestically and internationally.
MBC's '100-Minute Debate' has prepared a special series titled 'Crisis in Korean Society, Asking for Solutions' to diagnose the current state of Korean society amid political turmoil and seek a better future. For four consecutive weeks, key politicians from both ruling and opposition parties will be invited to deeply analyze the issues facing Korean society and discuss solutions.
The first episode of the series will be held tonight (19th) at 9 PM, featuring Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party. Professor Jeon Hak-seon from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Director Jang Sung-cheol from the Public Opinion Center, and Park Sung-tae, head of the 'People and Society Research Institute,' will also participate as panelists for the discussion.
The second debate of the series will be broadcast live on February 26 (Wednesday) at 9 PM, featuring Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo. On March 4 (Tuesday), Kim Sun-min, the acting leader of the Justice Party, will appear, and on March 11 (Tuesday), Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform Party, will participate.
[Geum Bit-na, MK Sports Reporter]
