Ruling Party Leader Preference No.1 Han Dong-hoon... Gallup "Up 8%P Despite Text Ignoring Controversy"

Support for Korea stands out in Yeongnam and Seoul with many ruling party members
President Yoon's approval rating remains steady at 25% for three months

Among the People Power Party's presidential candidates, candidate Han Dong-hoon’s approval rating rose by 8 percentage points compared to before the controversy over First Lady Kim Geon-hee ignoring text messages, significantly surpassing other candidates.

According to a survey conducted by Korea Gallup from July 9 to 11 (2nd week of July) targeting 1,000 nationwide adults aged 18 and over (using wireless phone interviewer method, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, response rate 11.2%, detailed information available on the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website), Han’s approval rating increased by 8 percentage points from two weeks ago to 36%, the agency announced on the 12th. Following him were Na Kyung-won at 17%, Won Hee-ryong at 10%, and Yoon Sang-hyun at 7%, respectively.

Among People Power Party supporters (347 respondents, margin of error ±5.3 percentage points), Han Dong-hoon led with 57%, followed by Na Kyung-won at 18%, Won Hee-ryong at 15%, and Yoon Sang-hyun at 3%. When surveyed among People Power Party supporters and the undecided group totaling 566 respondents (margin of error ±4.1 percentage points), Han received 45%, Na 15%, Won 12%, Yoon 3%, and 25% were undecided. After the controversy over First Lady Kim’s ignored texts, the gap between Han Dong-hoon and non-Han candidates widened from 38% to 34% two weeks ago (June 25?27) to 45% to 30%.

Moreover, Han’s support was particularly strong in regions with many People Power Party members such as Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK), Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (PK), and Seoul. In TK, Han Dong-hoon received 44%, Na Kyung-won 20%, Won Hee-ryong 9%, and Yoon Sang-hyun 1%. In PK, Han had 38%, Na 19%, Won 11%, and Yoon 6%. In Seoul, Han garnered 42%, Na 14%, Won 11%, and Yoon 6%.

Na Kyung-won, Won Hee-ryong, Han Dong-hoon, and Yoon Sang-hyun, four candidates for the People Power Party leadership, are taking a commemorative photo on the 11th at the MBN studio in Jung-gu, Seoul, before the second broadcast debate for party leader candidates. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

President Yoon’s job approval rating stands at 25% positive and 68% negative, remaining stagnant for three months since the general election. Compared to the previous survey, the positive rating dropped by 1 percentage point, while the negative rating rose by 4 percentage points.

When asked why they positively evaluated the president’s job performance, respondents cited 'diplomacy' (24%), 'expansion of medical school quotas' (7%), and 'overall good performance' and 'decisiveness, drive, and perseverance' (5%) in that order. Reasons for negative evaluation included 'economy, livelihood, and prices' (13%), 'lack of communication' and 'overall poor performance' (8%), 'diplomacy' (6%), 'lack of experience and competence, incompetence,' 'autocratic and one-sided' (5%), and 'veto use,' 'First Lady Kim Geon-hee issues,' and 'pressure on Marine Corps investigation' (4%).

In this survey, party support ratings were People Power Party 35%, Democratic Party of Korea 30%, Innovation Party 8%, Reform Party 3%, Progressive Party 1%, other parties and organizations 1%, and 22% were undecided with no party preference.

[Image source=Yonhap News]