Jeong Se-gyun, Honam Region Support Rate Surges to '9.9%'... Supporters Encouraged

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Former Prime Minister and Democratic Party presidential primary candidate Chung Sye-kyun is rapidly rising in suitability polls for the next presidential candidate in the broad progressive camp and the Democratic Party in the Honam region, causing public sentiment to fluctuate.

According to the Balanced Ladder Gwangju-Jeonnam Headquarters (Co-Chairpersons Assemblymen Cho O-seop and Kim Hoe-jae), a group supporting former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, OhmyNews commissioned the polling agency Realmeter to conduct a 'Democratic Party presidential candidate suitability' poll, in which Chung recorded 9.9% in the Honam region.

This marks a 4.8 percentage point increase from the previous suitability poll's 5.1%. Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung dropped by 10 percentage points, and former party leader Lee Nak-yeon fell by 0.7 percentage points.

The poll was conducted over two days, July 26-27, targeting 2,058 adults aged 18 and over nationwide.

Additionally, the Balanced Ladder Gwangju-Jeonnam Headquarters reported that in a 'broad progressive camp next presidential candidate suitability' poll conducted by the Korea Society Opinion Institute (KSOI) for TBS (Traffic Broadcasting Service), targeting 1,006 adults nationwide in the fourth week of July, former Prime Minister Chung recorded 9.7% in Honam.

Within a week, Chung's support surged sharply from 5.5 percentage points to 4.2 percentage points. If this trend continues, it is expected that former Prime Minister Chung will make a significant comeback in the Honam region, forming a three-way competition with Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung and former leader Lee Nak-yeon, which is encouraging his supporters.

Assemblyman Cho O-seop (Gwangju Buk-gu Gap), co-chair of the Balanced Ladder Gwangju-Jeonnam Headquarters, said, "Due to regionalism-related 'Baekje remarks,' Governor Lee Jae-myung's momentum has collapsed in Honam. Furthermore, the negative mudslinging between candidates Lee Jae-myung and Lee Nak-yeon has escalated beyond limits, resulting in accumulated negative evaluations of both candidates," adding, "There is growing concern among local residents and party members that the unsightly disputes between the two candidates may adversely affect the upcoming presidential election."

Co-chair Cho continued, "In contrast, former Prime Minister Chung, a former executive of Ssangyong Group, has served six terms as a member of the National Assembly, party leader, Minister of Industry, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Prime Minister, demonstrating economic expertise and diplomatic acumen. He is a well-trained and prepared candidate," adding, "Local residents who have witnessed the fierce negative exchanges between the two candidates within the party are increasingly supporting and showing interest in former Prime Minister Chung, who has no ethical issues and possesses strengths such as stable national unity."