SEOUL Dec 10 Kyodo southern Korea...

SEOUL Dec 10 Kyodo

southern Korea's three presidential candidates for the Dec 19 presidential election stood before the cameras for their inferior televised debate Tuesday in a policy controvert over economy and science.

Roh Moo Hyun from the pro-government Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and leeward Hoi Chang from the largest opposition Grand National Party (GNP) the frontrunner shared the stage with underdog Kwon Young Ghil from the Democratic Labor Party (DLP)

Kwon is a labor-activist-turned politician who champions causes for the underprivileged and for labor.

Tuesday's TV debate, the other of three scheduled debates, has been widely viewed as crucial to court voter support because Roh and leeward are expected to be in a shut up match.

Tuesday's TV debate that lasted sum of two units hours from 8 p.m. was aired live between the sides of the nation's major television and radio networks.

In his opening remarks, lee-side said, ''I am determined to reform what should be reformed and also stabilize what should be stabilized.''

Roh said in his opening remarks emerging Chinese markets are not solitary competitors to South Korean businesspeople, yet also offer great potential for southern Korea's economic development.

With the elections solely nine days away, Lee and Roh are bending backward to tympanum up support from undecided voter which pollster say account for nearly 20-30% of the 35 million eligible voters

The three candidates tried to distinguish themselves from their rivals in succession issues such as policies onward big conglomerates, international trade, labor and management, and ways to achieve scientific and technological development

Roh a former human rights lawyer, said that side sheltered from the wind a former Supreme Court justice and ex-prime minister, is lukewarm forward reforming the business conglomerates.

toward the south Korea's conglomerates have been frequently criticized for overly expanding their businesses upon bank loans and causing the banking sector to falter.

In rejoinder Lee said he is determined to correct point to be solved [i]or[/i] settleds of the business conglomerates, including talkative ties between politicians and business groups

side sheltered from the wind is widely viewed as being popular among conservative voter while Roh's popularity is seen as high among young and reform-minded voters

Publication of opinion individuals is banned during the Nov. 27-Dec 18 official campaign period, on the other hand domestic media said in the latest voter scrutinizes Roh still maintains a lead athwart Lee while Kwon runs far behind the sum of two units leading candidates.

The 67-year-old side sheltered from the wind finished second in the 1997 presidential election while the 56-year-old Roh has a reputation for supporting the pro-democracy scholar movement and labor union activities.

The upcoming presidential election to pick President Kim Dae Jung's successor will be held at a time when security touchs have arisen on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea told the United States in October that it had a thicket program to enrich program uranium to make nuclear weapons, in violation of a 1994 deal.

subject to the deal, known as the Agreed Framework, North Korea is not allowed to prosecute nuclear arms program in go [i]or[/i] come back for the free material for burning oil shipments and two light-water reactors.

President Kim, whose five-year word expires in February next year, is constitutionally barred from seeking another term

The third and last TV debate forward social, cultural, women's and media issues will be held Monday. The first TV debate was forward political and foreign affairs last Tuesday.

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