PPP'S FIRST TV DEBATE

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The People Power Party hosted its first TV debate after whittling down its presidential candidates to eight. Yoon Seok-youl, who appeared in a TV debate for the first time, was bombarded with questions...while another strong contender Hong Joon-pyo was questioned on some tough issues.

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The candidates showed up for their first open debate since the primary began. Most of the attacks were focused on Yoon Seok-youl in this long-anticipated event.

[Soundbite] Hong Joon-pyo(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "You have been leading the efforts to destroy the conservative camp."

[Soundbite] Yoon Seok-youl(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "I fulfilled my duty as a prosecutor."

[Soundbite] Hong Joon-pyo(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "I have never seen a presidential candidate with so many flaws."

[Soundbite] Yoon Seok-youl(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "The Liberty Korea Party had vetted me as prosecutor-general and I’m here today because I have been fully vetted."

Yoon was questioned about allegedly prompting his deputies to file charges against President Moon Jae-in’s close associate.

[Soundbite] Yoo Seong-min(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "Are you willing to drop out of the race if the close associates of the prosecutor-general had in fact written this up and delivered it?"

[Soundbite] Yoon Seok-youl(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "I wasn’t involved."

Candidates criticized Hong Joon-pyo for being overly mindful of the ruling camp supporters.

[Soundbite] Won Hee-ryong(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "You are more eager to attack our own party than the Democratic Party. Are you really one with the PPP?"

[Soundbite] Ha Tae-keung(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "Was it wrong to investigate Cho Kuk?"

[Soundbite] Hong Joon-pyo(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "I’m not saying it was wrong, but it was investigated too excessively."

Former presidential candidates also argued over their actions during the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye.

[Soundbite] Yoo Seong-min(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "You said about ex-President Park Geun-hye that she was merely a sidekick and deserved to be impeached."

[Soundbite] Hong Joon-pyo(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "You have no right to ask me about ex-President Park."

While answering their greatest weaknesses, Yoon Seok-youl could not avoid questions about former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.

[Soundbite] Yoon Seok-youl(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "I didn’t oversee the cases involving Cho Kuk and his family for that long."

Yoo Seong-min was accused of having betrayed the party during the impeachment.

[Soundbite] Yoo Seong-min(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "If I’m a traitor, is Choi Soon-sil a patriot? I followed my conscience and conviction and impeached the president."

Six of the candidates said that it would be better to have Lee Jae-myung as the Democratic Party candidate in the presidential election.

[Soundbite] Choe Jae-hyeong(PPP Presidential Primary Candidate) : "Lee Jae-myung’s pledges sacrifice the future of our country."

Five more debates will take place until the second round of primary when the candidate pool will be reduced to four.