Falling Approval Ratings for the Democratic Party, Challenge of Broadening Support
Schedule on the 19th Postponed, Visit to Daegu Residence Delayed
Kim Ki-hyun, the leader of the People Power Party, has decided to postpone his scheduled visit to former President Park Geun-hye on the 19th. Although the official reason given was to accommodate a busy schedule including attendance at the April 19th commemoration ceremony, some interpret this as a strategic adjustment due to the lack of signs of a rebound in approval ratings despite efforts to consolidate conservative support.
On the 14th, Kim visited the late former President Park Chung-hee Memorial Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and was also scheduled to visit former President Park Geun-hye this week. This was seen as a move aimed at rallying conservative supporters amid a decline in ruling party approval ratings.
Earlier, President Yoon Suk-yeol also visited Daegu Seomun Market, known as the "heart of conservatism," on the 1st of this month.
However, despite these efforts, the ruling party's approval ratings have yet to show signs of recovery. A public opinion poll released on the 17th showed a simultaneous decline in approval ratings for President Yoon and the People Power Party.
According to a survey conducted by Realmeter on behalf of Media Tribune from April 10 to 14, targeting 2,506 people nationwide aged 18 and over (with a margin of error of ±2.0 percentage points at a 95% confidence level), President Yoon's positive evaluation of state affairs dropped by 2.8 percentage points from the previous week to 33.6%.
Party support stood at 33.9% for the People Power Party and 48.8% for the Democratic Party of Korea. The People Power Party's support fell by 3.1 percentage points compared to the previous week, while the Democratic Party's support rose by 2.9 percentage points. The gap between the two parties widened significantly to 14.9 percentage points from 8.9 percentage points the previous week. For more details, refer to the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission website.
The sudden change in Kim's schedule comes amid doubts about whether a visit to former President Park Geun-hye would have a positive effect, given the lack of signs of a rebound in approval ratings despite efforts to consolidate the conservative base. Criticism over controversies related to the far-right pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon and disputes involving senior party members also remain significant variables.
However, Kim plans to reschedule and visit former President Park's residence in Daegu after the 19th.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
