ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the deployment of electoral debates in South Korean politics via television and other media platforms. Since their beginning in 1995, televised election debates have redefined Korean politics from traditional one-way campaign speeches delivered to the mass public to mass-mediated electoral campaigns on television with debates and interactive questions and answers with voters. Since legal requirement has been set by the Public Official Election Act, television debates have featured political candidates in five presidential elections, as well as numerous national parliamentary, gubernatorial, and mayoral elections. Over the years, viewership for presidential television debates has remained strong, but viewership for local elections has been declining. Consequently, terrestrial television broadcasters are trying to air electoral debates through multiple channels including YouTube in order to stay competitive and effective in the age of multimedia platforms.
