Centrist Voters Turn Away...? United Party Support Surpasses Democratic Party for the First Time
United Party Engages in Flood Recovery Efforts to Win Hearts in Honam Region
On July 15th, Lee Hae-chan, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is listening to a speech at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The approval ratings of the United Future Party and the Democratic Party have reversed. This is the first time since the United Future Party was founded ahead of the last general election. The decline in the Democratic Party's approval ratings was significant among those aged 50 and above in the Honam and Chungcheong regions.
As a result, voices from party supporters are growing louder, suggesting that the Democratic Party should focus on managing approval ratings, especially in Honam. Meanwhile, the United Future Party has even formed a special committee to listen more to the voices from Honam.
In addition, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader, plans to volunteer at flood recovery sites in Namwon, Jeonbuk, and share his reflections on his 100 days in office at the site. Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in is scheduled to visit Gwangju, pay respects at the May 18 cemetery, and deliver a message to the public.
There is a prevailing view that the United Future Party is beginning to actively embrace Honam. Consequently, some in the political sphere believe that the United Future Party is expanding its centrist base and securing approval ratings in Seoul and the metropolitan area based on the Honam region.
The Democratic Party saw its approval ratings drop by more than 10 percentage points in Honam, its largest support base, within a week. In Honam, President Moon Jae-in's job approval ratings are also declining. In summary, both the party and government approval ratings are falling simultaneously in the Democratic Party's stronghold, Honam.
According to a weekday survey conducted by Realmeter on 1,507 adults nationwide from the 10th to the 12th, commissioned by TBS, the Democratic Party's approval rating fell by 1.7 percentage points from the previous week to 33.4%, while the United Future Party's rose by 1.9 percentage points to 36.5%.
By region, the Democratic Party's approval rating dropped in Gwangju and Jeolla (47.8%, down 11.5 percentage points) and also declined in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheong (28.6%, down 5.6 percentage points).
By age group, the Democratic Party's approval rating fell among those aged 70 and above (21.8%, down 5.9 percentage points) and those in their 50s (34.7%, down 5.1 percentage points). Conversely, the United Future Party's approval rating increased among those in their 50s (41.1%, up 8.2 percentage points), those aged 70 and above (49.4%, up 5.4 percentage points), and those in their 20s (34.7%, up 5.1 percentage points).
President Moon Jae-in visited the Gurye 5-Day Market in Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do, on the afternoon of the 12th to encourage the merchants. Photo by Yonhap News
As the Democratic Party experiences a decline in approval ratings in the Honam region, President Moon's job approval ratings in this area are also clearly declining.
According to the Korea Gallup survey conducted in the fourth week of July (21st?23rd) evaluating President Moon's job performance (with a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points), 72% of respondents in Honam said he was "doing well," while 22% said he was "doing poorly."
In the following fifth week (28th?30th) survey, the "doing well" response dropped by 3 percentage points from the previous week to 69%, with 14% responding "doing poorly."
In the first week of August (4th?6th) survey, the "doing well" response further declined by 1 percentage point to 68%, while the "doing poorly" response was 16%.
Polling agencies analyzed that the rise in conservative support is linked to recent political issues.
A Realmeter official stated, "During the real estate phase, statements by United Future Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook, visits to Honam during flood situations, proactive and aggressive proposals for supplementary budgets, and efforts to formally recognize the May 18 Democratization Movement in the party platform have improved the party's image," adding, "This aggressive approach targeting both conservative consolidation and the centrist camp has had an impact."
Among Democratic Party supporters, there were also reactions expressing some disappointment.
Kim, a 30-year-old office worker residing in Seoul who has supported the Democratic Party for over 10 years, said, "Among young people, controversies over the regularization of irregular workers at Incheon International Airport, among women, the sexual harassment case involving the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, and among middle-aged people, the real estate issue have all been major setbacks," adding, "The problem was that the party failed to show the ability to handle these issues well, and the messages released on each matter seemed somewhat off-target." He continued, "That's why the United Future Party's approval ratings just went up."
Another supporter, Park, a 40-year-old office worker, cautiously said, "It's a delicate topic, but I wonder if the party is still intoxicated by the 176-seat victory," adding, "If the Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections come as they are, it would be bleak."
Kim Jong-in, the General Election Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, is holding a press conference on the results of the 21st National Assembly election at the National Assembly on the morning of April 16. [Image source=Yonhap News]
While the Democratic Party is experiencing a decline in party approval ratings in its support base of Honam, the United Future Party has begun a full-scale effort to embrace Honam. The United Future Party launched the "National Integration Special Committee" directly under the Emergency Committee Chairman. Jeong Un-cheon, a lawmaker from Jeonju, Jeonbuk, has been appointed as the committee chair.
Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the United Future Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido on the 12th, stating, "The United Future Party reflects on its shortcomings as a national party, including neglecting Honam, failing to properly field candidates in the general election, and not receiving support in Honam, and intends to listen more to their voices."
Spokesperson Kim added, "Policies that support the voices of Honam must precede so that our sincere plans and intentions toward Honam can be recognized," and said, "The special committee is also considering policies that can listen to and embody the practical voices from the field."
Positive reactions are also emerging among United Future Party supporters. Cha, a 40-year-old office worker, said, "If approached only from a strategic perspective for future elections, the party will surely be ignored by local residents," but added, "I hope the United Future Party moves not just as a one-time effort but from a truly grand perspective."
Another 30-year-old office worker, Kim, emphasized, "I hope the era of regionalism political fights ends. I want the competition to be solely based on policies, and I hope the United Future Party's effort to gauge 'Honam public sentiment' will be the starting point." He added, "If the party gains support in Honam and solid approval ratings in Seoul and the metropolitan area, wouldn't that make it a national party?"
Members of the Future United Party belonging to the National Assembly's Special Committee on Budget and Accounts visited flood damage sites in Namwon, Jeonbuk, on the 12th to discuss budget support measures. From the left, Jeonbuk Governor Song Ha-jin, and Assembly members Jeong Un-cheon, Kim Ki-hyun, Chu Kyung-ho, Bae Jun-young, and Namwon Mayor Lee Hwan-joo. / Provided by Future United Party
Meanwhile, the party leadership has also arranged a schedule to visit Honam and has begun a full-scale campaign targeting the region. Floor leader Joo changed the location of his 100-day inauguration press conference from the National Assembly to Namwon, Jeonbuk, today (13th).
After volunteering in flood recovery areas, he will share his reflections on his 100 days in office on site. Emergency Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in will visit Gwangju on the 19th to pay respects at the May 18 cemetery and deliver a message to the public.
This is not Chairman Kim's first visit to Honam. Starting with his visit on the 10th, he toured flood-affected areas in Namwon, Jeonbuk; Gurye, Jeonnam; and Hadong, Gyeongnam, with United Future Party lawmakers from the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee on the 12th, discussing budget support measures.
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