[AKYUNG Poll] 69.4% Support Pardon for Lee Jae-yong

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Public opinion shows that about 70% believe Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman of Samsung Electronics who is serving a prison sentence for the state corruption scandal, should be pardoned. This is interpreted as reflecting a social atmosphere highlighting the role of Vice Chairman Lee amid the intensifying semiconductor hegemony competition between the U.S. and China. Opinions suggesting that Vice Chairman Lee could contribute to securing COVID-19 vaccines may also have influenced this.

According to a survey conducted by Asia Economy through Win-G Korea Consulting from the 24th to 25th, targeting 1,008 men and women nationwide aged 18 and older, 69.4% responded that Vice Chairman Lee should be pardoned, while 23.2% said he should not be pardoned.

By age group, overwhelming support was seen among those in their 60s and those aged 70 and above, with 86.8% and 88.3% respectively. Support among those in their 50s was 68.8%, 60.2% in their 40s, 59.9% in their 30s, and 59.0% among those aged 18-29. The opinion that he should not be pardoned was highest among those in their 40s at 34.9%. Among the 18-29 and 30s age groups, 14.1% and 10.3% respectively responded with "don't know," which was relatively higher than other age groups (4-5%).

Among supporters of the People Power Party, 90.8% favored pardoning Vice Chairman Lee, whereas supporters of the Democratic Party of Korea were evenly split with 47.5% in favor and 44.3% opposed. Regionally, the approval rates were relatively high in Daegu·Gyeongbuk and Busan·Ulsan·Gyeongnam.

This survey was conducted using 100% automated response system (ARS) via virtual phone numbers, with weighting applied by gender, age, and region. The response rate was 9.6%, and the sampling error was ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. For more detailed survey information, please refer to the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission website.