Approval Ratings at a 'Red Light': Party Leadership Candidates Warn, "We Must Stay Sharp"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Following the release of a public opinion poll showing the United Future Party surpassing the Democratic Party of Korea in party support, candidates for the party leadership election on August 29 have consecutively voiced calls for reform.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 13th, Representative Lee Nak-yeon said in an interview with CBS Radio’s ‘Sisa Jaki Jung Kwan-yong’ that the decline in approval ratings was due to “Gyeonggi Province not recovering and the rise in real estate prices, which expanded the relative deprivation (leading to worsening public opinion).”

He also pointed out, “It is true that there were inappropriate behaviors and remarks among members of the Democratic Party,” adding, “The mistakes of the Seoul and Busan mayors were significant. Making commentator-like remarks about jeonse and monthly rent was insufficient in understanding the feelings of the people suffering at home.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He further stated, “If the factors that lowered the approval ratings are resolved, recovery can be stable,” and “There were some important moments when the party’s response was somewhat slow. I believe things will improve if we respond much more promptly.”

Former Representative Kim Boo-kyum said on the morning of the 14th via Facebook, “The Democratic Party has truly reached a time to get its act together.”

Kim added, “The United Future Party is gradually showing changes under the leadership of Kim Jong-in. The centrist voters have expressed expectations for this,” and “A cold reflection at the party level is necessary. The Democratic Party has not done well, but the United Future Party has been so poor that the Democratic Party has received a reflexive benefit. I acknowledge this. Party members and comrades will agree.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He analyzed the cause of the recent drop in approval ratings as “instability in apartment prices in the metropolitan area,” saying, “The anger of citizens is serious. The solution has two wings: restraining demand and increasing supply.”

Kim emphasized, “High-density development centered around station areas is necessary. Financial support for first-time homebuyers should not be proposed,” while also warning, “If policies are twisted just because approval ratings have dropped, it will be more dangerous. The principles must be clear and consistent signals given to stabilize the market.”

In addition, he proposed early implementation of nationwide employment insurance, regional balanced development, and addressing gender issues as alternatives to overcome the drop in approval ratings.

Representative Park Joo-min also appeared on CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show’ that morning and analyzed, “The main cause of the Democratic Party’s drop in approval ratings lies in real estate.” Park said in the interview, “Recently, many citizens seem to be dissatisfied with real estate policies.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He said, “First, the party needs to communicate more with the public and explain better, but failing to fulfill that role has led to the current results,” adding, “In recent policy implementation, the party failed to meet the public’s expectations and did not provide necessary explanations, causing disappointment and leading to the drop in approval ratings.”

However, Park analyzed the rise in the United Future Party’s approval ratings as a “reflexive benefit.” He said, “Currently, the United Future Party’s strategy is damage control,” and “They are managing negative factors such as harsh remarks within the party, so it is difficult to say that the United Future Party’s approval ratings have risen because they are actively doing something well.”

Amid the party leadership candidates’ successive voices of reflection and reform, former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized on Facebook on the 13th, “The problem lies in the impossibility of reforming the party’s spirit. Reform requires an agent, but there is no such agent.” He added, “The party’s hegemony is held by the pro-Moon faction. Therefore, even the next candidates cannot dare to put a brake on the pro-Moon faction’s dominance.”

Meanwhile, there are also opinions that it is unnecessary to be overly swayed by the recent drop in approval ratings. A Democratic Party official said, “There is no need to be greatly unsettled. This is likely a temporary phenomenon caused by real estate issues. The impact on the presidential election will be minimal.”