Shaky People Party... Support Rate Drops from 3% to 2%

Ahn Cheol-soo Rejects 'Anti-Moon Alliance'
Realism Rises Amid Low Approval Ratings
Lee Dong-seop Joins United Future Party Following Kim Jung-ro

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The People’s Party, which is set to be founded on the 23rd, is already facing instability even before its official launch. This is due to low party approval ratings and rising realism. However, Ahn Cheol-soo, the chairman of the party’s founding preparation committee, has clearly rejected any anti-Moon (anti-Moon Jae-in) coalition. As a result, Kim Jung-ro, a lawmaker affiliated with Ahn Cheol-soo, followed by lawmaker Lee Dong-seop, have declared their entry into the United Future Party.

On the afternoon of the 21st, Lee held a press conference at the National Assembly’s Press Hall and said, “After a long period of agonizing and painful deliberation, I have decided to join the United Future Party,” adding, “The only way to stop the Moon Jae-in administration’s tyranny and revive people’s livelihoods is to unite all our strength and win the general election.” He continued, “It has been eight years since I formed ties with Chairman Ahn. I have stood by him loyally even in the hardest times,” and added, “But now is the time for everyone to unite in the face of a greater crisis.”

It was reported that on the 19th, during a dinner gathering with Chairman Ahn and other key members of the People’s Party founding preparation committee, Lee revealed that he was contemplating his political future. Not only Lee but also the out-of-parliament committee chairs emphasized to Chairman Ahn the necessity of an anti-Moon coalition. Analysts suggest that the 4.15 general election landscape being reshaped into a 'Democratic Party of Korea vs. United Future Party' contest has made People’s Party candidates in constituencies anxious.

In particular, the party’s approval rating, which has been falling rather than rising ahead of the general election, also played a role. According to a survey conducted by Gallup Korea from the 18th to the 20th targeting 1,002 people aged 18 and over (response rate 13%, margin of error ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level), the People’s Party’s approval rating was only 2%. This is a 1 percentage point drop compared to a week earlier. For more details, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.

Chairman Ahn dismissed the possibility of integration or coalition with the United Future Party. At the Central Steering Committee meeting of the founding preparation committee held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building on the morning of the 21st, he stated, “Upon returning to Korea, I said I would pursue a path of pragmatic centrist politics. Although this path is by no means easy, it is the right path for our country, so I intend to follow it,” adding, “With a resolve of life-or-death, I will break through the high and thick walls of vested interest politics that hold our country back. Even if it is lonely and difficult, I will follow the path promised to the people.”

Chairman Ahn said, “I acknowledge that there is some merit to the call for an anti-Moon coalition to stop the tyranny of the Moon Jae-in administration,” but added, “However, preventing the worst 20th National Assembly from continuing into the next, and transitioning from factional politics that only fights to pragmatic politics that solves livelihood issues, is a precious value that cannot be given up for the Republic of Korea and a reform path that must be taken.”