Kim Gi-hyeon 40.3% vs Na Kyung-won 25.3%... 'Yoon's Influence Dispute' Sparks Controversy

Realmeter Poll
Kim Gi-hyeon Leads Next Party Leader Approval Ratings
President Yoon's Government Approval at 40.4%

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, ranked first in a public opinion poll for the next party leader among People Power Party supporters.

According to a poll released on the 19th by Realmeter (commissioned by Media Tribune, conducted from the 16th to 17th, targeting 1,202 men and women nationwide aged 18 and over (520 of whom were People Power Party supporters), conducted via automated response), Kim received 40.3% support from People Power Party supporters. This is an increase of 7.8 percentage points compared to the previous poll (conducted January 12-13).

Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won came in second with 25.3%. Na's support dropped by 1.6 percentage points compared to the previous poll. The gap between first and second place widened to 15.0%, which is outside the margin of error (±4.3%P).

Source: Provided by Realmeter

Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo received 17.2%, down 1.3 percentage points from the previous poll, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min received 8.1%, down 2.3 percentage points. Assemblyman Yoon Sang-hyun gained 3.1%, up 1.5 percentage points from the previous poll.

The party leader candidate poll was conducted only among People Power Party supporters within the total respondents. The People Power Party leadership election, scheduled for March 8, will decide the party leader through 100% party member votes.

In terms of the likelihood of winning the party leader position, Kim recorded 44.4%, up 9.2 percentage points from the previous poll, while Na came in at 26.9%, down 2.5 percentage points.

This is interpreted as conservative supporters rallying behind Kim, who is seen as a pro-Yoon candidate, following President Yoon Suk-yeol's dismissal of Na from the position of Vice Chair of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee, and the ensuing dispute between Na and the presidential office over the so-called 'Yoon's intention' (Yoon-sim), which escalated into internal party strife.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the party support survey, the Democratic Party of Korea ranked first with 43.7%, People Power Party second with 41.9%, and the Justice Party at 3%.

President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating for his administration was 40.4% (25.2% very good, 15.2% somewhat good), with a disapproval rating of 56.6% (47.9% very bad, 8.7% somewhat bad).

For detailed survey methodology and results, please refer to the website of the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission.