One Month of Han Dong-hoon's Emergency Committee... What Is the Public Opinion?

Gallup party leader approval rating at 52%, comparable to Park Geun-hye emergency committee level
Uncertain if expansion can lead to general election victory

It has been a month since the People Power Party leadership launched the Han Dong-hoon Emergency Response Committee system. Over the short span of a month, a turbulent period reminiscent of a historical drama unfolded, starting with controversies over the committee's appointments, conflicts and reconciliations with President Yoon Seok-yeol. From the perspective of the next leader, Chairman Han has risen relatively quickly within a month, but evaluations suggest that visible changes capable of leading the People Power Party to victory in the general election have yet to emerge.

On the 29th, Chairman Han stated at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly, "For a month, the committee has worked with good intentions to be fearful of the people, to be loved by the people, and to engage in helpful politics," adding, "There were likely many shortcomings in the eyes of fellow citizens. I will do better."

Positive public opinion toward Chairman Han was reflected in polls. According to a Gallup poll released on the 26th (conducted from the 23rd to 25th nationwide among 1,001 adults aged 18 and over, using random digit dialing of wireless phone virtual numbers with interviewer calls), Chairman Han received 52% support as party leader. This is significantly higher than the 35% support for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and matches the 52% approval rating of former President Park Geun-hye when she served as the Emergency Response Committee Chair of the Grand National Party (surveyed March 19-23, 2012).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, the problem lies in the lack of significant change in party approval ratings. According to Gallup's party approval polls, the support rate before Chairman Han's appointment was 36% (second week of December last year), and last week's poll also showed a 36% approval rating. While 'politician Han Dong-hoon' can be considered to have debuted successfully, it remains uncertain whether he can leverage this to lead the general election to victory.

Analysis of big data, such as Google Trends related search terms, also showed considerable personal interest in Chairman Han. Major related search terms included ‘kkachibal’ (3rd place), referring to the practice of standing on tiptoes to raise the instep when taking group photos, and ‘Han Dong-hoon 1992’ (6th place), related to the T-shirt Chairman Han wore during a dinner gathering on his visit to Busan. Conversely, public interest in political reform agendas actively promoted by Chairman Han as general election pledges?such as reducing the number of National Assembly members to 250, relinquishing parliamentary immunity, and returning salaries if convicted of imprisonment or higher sentences?was not prominent.

The top two search terms related to Chairman Han were Kim Kyung-yul and Han Dong-hoon Kim Kyung-yul resignation, concerning Kim Kyung-yul, a People Power Party Emergency Response Committee member. Kim, who had called for an apology regarding the controversy over luxury handbags owned by Kim Geon-hee, wife of President Yoon Seok-yeol, was pointed out as a major cause of conflict between Chairman Han and the presidential office. Public opinion notably sees Kim’s position as closely linked to Chairman Han’s standing.

Meanwhile, detailed survey outlines and results related to the polls can be found on the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.