"An Cheol-soo's Approval Rating Soars by 9.4%p... First Place in People Power Party Leadership Poll"

Approval Ratings: Ahn Cheol-soo 43.3% vs Kim Ki-hyun 36.0%

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Ahn Cheol-soo has taken first place for the first time in the support survey for the next leader candidate of the People Power Party. Ahn secured nearly a majority of support in a virtual party leader race against Kim Ki-hyun, another People Power Party lawmaker, leading the poll.

According to a public opinion poll released on the 2nd by Realmeter (commissioned by Media Tribune, conducted from January 31 to February 1, targeting 1,005 men and women nationwide aged 18 and over (including 428 People Power Party supporters), conducted via automated response), Ahn received 43.3% in the suitability survey for the next party leader support, ahead of Kim’s 36.0% by 7.3 percentage points within the margin of error (±4.7 percentage points). Compared to the third survey (January 25-26), Ahn’s support rose by 9.4 percentage points, while Kim’s dropped by 4.0 percentage points.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This is the first time Ahn has taken first place in the four surveys conducted. Realmeter explained, "Following former lawmaker Na Kyung-won and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min’s declarations not to run in the People Power Party leadership election, Ahn has risen sharply again in the latest survey, recording the highest support rate within the margin of error."

The upcoming People Power Party leadership election on March 8 will be decided 100% by party members without including general public opinion polls, making the intentions of party members absolutely crucial. Therefore, the poll was narrowed down to only People Power Party supporters (428 people) from the total respondents (1,005 people).

In the virtual race for the next party leader, Ahn’s support rose by 8.1 percentage points to 48.9%, while Kim’s dropped by 3.6 percentage points to 44.4%. Although still within the margin of error, the first and second place support rankings between the two have changed.

Provided by Realmeter

However, in the survey on the likelihood of becoming party leader, the gap narrowed but Kim still maintained first place. Kim recorded 44.4%, down 4.1 percentage points from the previous survey, when asked about the possibility of winning. Ahn rose by 12.3 percentage points to 41.0%. Although Kim leads in the likelihood survey, the gap between the two has significantly narrowed from outside the margin of error to within it compared to the previous survey.

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