Falling Behind in Virtual Matchup with Lee Jae-myung
Apology Controversy and Repeated Clashes Over Primary Rules
[Asia Economy reporters Naju-seok and Park Joon-yi] One week before the People Power Party’s presidential primary vote, internal conflicts among the presidential candidates are intensifying. Representative Hong Joon-pyo of the People Power Party and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl showed a neck-and-neck race, tying in suitability polls for conservative candidates.
According to a poll released on the 25th (conducted by TBS Broadcasting commissioned to the Korea Social Research Institute from the 22nd to 23rd, using ARS method, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level; detailed information can be found at the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission), Hong and Yoon both recorded 26.9% in the suitability survey for the next conservative presidential candidate. Amid escalating mutual accusations, both Hong and Yoon dropped by 1.6 and 2.2 percentage points respectively compared to last week’s poll. Yoon suffered relatively more damage due to the controversy over the ‘apple’ incident posted on social media (SNS). Meanwhile, former Representative Yoo Seung-min rose by 1.9 percentage points to 13.6% compared to the previous poll.
Both Hong and Yoon were found to be trailing within the margin of error in hypothetical matchups against Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate.
The exchanges between the two sides continued on the same day. Following the ‘apple controversy’ involving Yoon, Hong criticized Yoon’s ‘line-up strategy’ regarding party members. Yoon stated on social media (SNS), "Ultimately, party sentiment must follow public sentiment, but I am concerned about the forced line-up strategy by other candidates," urging party members and district committee chairs to "create a fair primary atmosphere." There are claims that Yoon is recruiting many senior lawmakers by dangling the promise of nominations for metropolitan mayors as bait.
Yoon also directly criticized Hong the previous day. After announcing his campaign staff appointments at the National Assembly, he responded to questions about allegations that his wife, Kim Geon-hee, posted the ‘dog apple photo’ by saying, "Some people have family members who also serve as campaign chairpersons." This was a reference to Hong’s wife, Lee Soon-sam, who serves as the campaign chairperson for the presidential pre-candidate. Both camps launched a barrage of attacks the day before by releasing lists of ‘slips of the tongue and outrageous remarks’ by the opposing candidate.
The candidates are also engaged in sharp disputes over the ‘primary rules.’ In particular, Yoon’s camp advocates for a ‘head-to-head contest with Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate,’ while Hong’s camp supports a ‘four-choice multiple-choice’ method. Yoon’s campaign spokesperson Yoon Hee-seok stated on the radio that "the question should be designed to select the candidate with the highest probability of winning against the Democratic candidate." On the other hand, former Representative Lee Eon-ju, co-chair of Hong’s campaign, countered on the radio, "It is very difficult to compare candidates with discrimination through hypothetical matchups," adding, "There has never been a case of holding a primary in that way until now," opposing Yoon’s camp’s argument.
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