The ruling Democratic Party’s(DP) leading presidential hopeful Lee Jae-myung and rival Lee Nak-yon clashed over the former’s pledge on universal basic income during a televised debate Tuesday night. 

During the session hosted by MBC, former Prime Minister and DP Chair Lee Nak-yon called Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung’s basic income plan a populist pledge, arguing that people are concerned the tax burden will outweigh the benefits.

In response, Gov. Lee admitted that some year-end tax deductions could be curtailed if basic income is distributed. However, he argued that the tax reduction adjustment will not be significant or sudden, so that ordinary salary-earners won’t have to worry and will see an income increase. 

Meanwhile, DP presidential contenders also wrangled over former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae’s possible role in a political meddling scandal involving the former prosecutor-general and leading opposition presidential hopeful Yoon Seok-youl. 

It was the first televised debate held among the five remaining DP presidential hopefuls after former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun bowed out of the race on Monday.