On the 18th, presidential candidates from each party are pledging their campaigns at the candidate debate for the 21st presidential election organized by the Central Election Broadcasting Debate Commission at SBS Prism Tower in Mapo-gu, Seoul. From left are Kim Moon-soo from the People Power Party, Kwon Young-guk from the Democratic Labor Party, Lee Jun-seok from the Reform Party, and presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung from the Democratic Party of Korea. /Courtesy of News1

Renewable energy-related stocks are strong in the early trading on the 19th. This appears to be due to Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung emphasizing the renewable energy industry at the first candidate debate for the 21st presidential election the night before.

Stocks of DaeMoung Energy, which is in the renewable energy generation business, were trading at 24,900 won on the Korea Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (KOSDAQ) market at 9:08 a.m. That marked a 29.82% (5,720 won) increase from the previous trading day, hitting the upper limit of daily price restrictions.

Solar company HD Hyundai Energy Solutions is also recording a stock price increase of over 20%. Other renewable energy-related stocks such as Kumyang Green Power, SK eternix, and SK oceanplant also showed double-digit stock price increases.

This is interpreted as being influenced by the numerous mentions of renewable energy in the previous day's first TV debate. Candidate Lee noted, "The whole world is transitioning to a renewable energy society due to the climate crisis, but we have almost no policies on renewable energy," adding, "We need to rapidly and massively develop the renewable energy industry."

Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party presidential candidate, pointed out the high generation cost of renewable energy and emphasized the importance of nuclear power and energy mix. He stated, "It's not that we shouldn't use renewable energy," but added, "The cost of nuclear power is less than one-eighth that of wind power and less than one-sixth that of solar power; not utilizing such cheap and safe nuclear power is due to the claims of misguided environmentalists."

Candidate Lee said, "Both nuclear power and renewable energy are necessary," emphasizing, "How we balance them is important." He further remarked, "Considering issues like waste disposal and the huge damage when accidents occur, it's better to avoid nuclear power as much as possible," suggesting, "Utilize nuclear power but not excessively, and transition to a renewable energy-centered society."

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