The TV debate among the presidential candidates on Tuesday was unsatisfactory as it failed to address the real ideologies and policies of the three, being too tied to the format, rather than content. A debate is a forum for the candidates to put forward their positions and contrast them with each other, but this was not the case due to time limits and rigid guidelines.

The viewing rate for KBS, MBC and SBS was a shocking 30 percent, lower than TV soap operas and 20 percent down from 1997. Organizers should be aware that the low rate might not only be due to political apathy, but also the content and format of the debate.

There should be a review on the methodology; a one minute question, ninety second to reply, and less than one minute for a rebuttal; which was insufficient to allow what viewers there were to get a grip on the candidates' policies. Arguments that this ensured fairness of the debate, raise criticism that it favored the third party candidate.

In the age of media politics, TV debates are an important measure, but we have to ask whether it was necessary for the three main stations to broadcast it simultaneously. The remaining debates need to be changed in order to attract the interest of the people, as the current format merely rehashes already known information, and candidates differentiated themselves by appearance alone. The general public needs to be able to probe the policies and characters of the candidates.

December 5, 2002