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Why Trump can stump for candidates but Lee can't

Published: 03 Jun. 2026, 13:20 Updated: 03 Jun. 2026, 15:00

President Lee Jae Myung, right, and first lady Kim Hea Kyung, second from right, chat with a merchant at Namhang Market in Busan on May 27. [BLUE HOUSE]

U.S. President Donald Trump can, but President Lee Jae Myung can't.

Every word and action by a president comes under scrutiny during election season. But the way these actions are perceived, and the legal boundaries governing them, differ sharply between the United States and Korea, where they can even lead to impeachment.

Korean President Lee, for example, recently visited Busan’s Jagalchi Market on May 26 and Namhang Market the following day.

He made no remarks related to the upcoming election. Instead, Lee emphasized his commitment to regional development, saying he would “develop Busan into a true maritime capital and complete balanced national development.”

The presidential office described the visits as part of efforts to “expand investment in the southeastern region” and address “economic and livelihood issues.”

However, as Busan is considered one of the key battlegrounds in the June 3 local elections, the People Power Party accused the president’s visits of “openly engaging in an election campaign through the use of state power.”

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Rep. Mike Lawler at Rockland Community College in Suffern, New York, on May 22. [AP/YONHAP]

By contrast, President Trump has also made public appearances during a politically sensitive time — ahead of the upcoming U.S. November midterm elections.

During an event in New York on May 22 to promote his economic policies, Trump invited Republican Rep. Mike Lawler, who is running for re-election, onto the stage and praised him.

“Mike Lawler is fantastic. He’s fantastic,” Trump said, urging voters to vote for Lawler. “He’s a terrific guy. You’re lucky to have him.”

Lawler's district is considered one of the most competitive electoral battlegrounds in the country. Reuters noted that Trump “campaigned [...] to support a vulnerable House Republican facing re-election in November.”

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech about the economy at Rockland Community College Fieldhouse in Suffern, New York, on May 22. [AFP/YONHAP]

The two scenes reflect markedly different approaches to how the two countries see the role of a president during election season.

While U.S. presidents openly campaign for candidates, Korean presidents are virtually silent when it comes to endorsements, or at least they are supposed to be.

Failure to remain neutral can even result in impeachment.

In Korea, Article 85 of the Public Official Election Act prohibits civil servants from intervening in elections.

“No public official or person who shall remain politically neutral in accordance with statutes or regulations may exercise undue influence on an election in connection with his or her duties or by taking advantage of his or her status, or shall commit an act that affects an election otherwise,” the provision states.

At the same time, Article 22 of the Political Parties Act allows the president to maintain party membership. The overlap between the president’s obligation to remain politically neutral as a public official and the right to belong to a political party has created a gray area that repeatedly fuels controversy during election seasons.

President Lee Jae Myung shakes hands with a merchant at Namhang Market in Busan on May 27. [BLUE HOUSE]

Former President Roh Moo-hyun found himself afoul of the law when, ahead of the parliamentary elections in 2004, he urged voters to support the newly formed Uri Party.

In a demonstration of the strictness of the impartiality law, the National Assembly voted to impeach Roh. The attempt to oust him was ultimately overturned by the Constitutional Court.

That same court, however, ruled against him in a 2007 case brought by the reinstated president challenging the neutrality mandate, arguing that it infringed upon the president’s freedom of political expression.

“When the president's freedom of political activity conflicts with the duty of electoral neutrality in matters related to election activities, the latter should take precedence,” the court ruled. It cited Korea’s history of state-controlled elections under authoritarian governments, during which public officials were mobilized to influence voting.

The United States, which also operates under a presidential system, takes a markedly different approach. Presidents routinely travel the country aboard Air Force One during election seasons and act as their party’s most prominent campaign surrogate.

Former U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a Juneteenth event at the Reedy Chapel AME Church in Galveston, Texas, on June 19. [AP/YONHAP]

So Trump's actions are not unique. Former Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden also campaigned extensively for their parties’ candidates while in office.

Traditionally, however, presidents observed informal limits on their political activities. While they criticized opposition policies and urged support for their own party, they generally refrained from directly attacking individual opposition candidates or explicitly endorsing specific candidates.

Ahead of the midterm elections, Trump has frequently appeared at campaign rallies for Republican candidates, often on weekends. But what he has uniquely done is use social media to launch repeated attacks on Democratic candidates while lavishly praising Republican contenders.

In February, he drew criticism after telling active-duty military personnel — who are expected to remain politically neutral — that they should vote for Republicans.

The U.S. counterpart to Korea’s election neutrality rules is the Hatch Act. The law was enacted in 1939 and named after Sen. Carl Hatch, who led the legislation following a vote-buying scandal involving Democratic politicians. It strictly prohibits federal employees from using their official authority or influence to interfere with elections.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington on May 27. [AP/YONHAP]

Notably, however, the Hatch Act exempts the president and vice president.

The exemption reflects their status as elected political figures rather than career civil servants and recognizes their freedom of political expression. However, the law requires presidents to personally cover expenses incurred during campaign activities that are not part of their official duties.

Critics have argued that some actions by White House officials and government agencies under Trump — including public expressions of support for Republican candidates and criticism of Democrats — may raise concerns about potential Hatch Act violations.

In parliamentary systems such as those of Japan, Britain and Germany, prime ministers typically serve as leaders of the ruling party and take an even more direct role in election campaigns. They may campaign actively on behalf of their parties, although such activities are generally conducted during personal time or while on leave from official duties.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM KI-HWAN [[email protected]]