Handonghun: "Public Opinion Polls Should Not Become Broker, Ambitious Player's Playground, or Business Venue"

Yeoyeon, Forum on Institutional Improvements for Normalizing Public Opinion Polls
Han: "We Must Find Ways to Reflect Public Sentiment"

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, stated on the 31st, "Public opinion polls should not become playgrounds or business venues for political brokers or ambitious individuals," urging changes in the perception and methodology of opinion polls.

At the 'Discussion on Institutional Improvements for Normalizing Opinion Polls' hosted by the Yeouido Research Institute at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Han said, "The current issues we face are difficult, but I hope this will be an opportunity to correct the problems of opinion polls and find ways to enable them to properly reflect public sentiment."

First, Han mentioned the pitfalls of opinion polls, saying, "Opinion polls are called the barometer of public sentiment. There is a saying that election fraud through opinion polls leads to ruin in the process of elections and politics. At some point, people began to suspect that opinion polls might be used as tools to distort public sentiment and lead it in a different direction."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This remark is interpreted as targeting the recent allegations of opinion poll manipulation during the last presidential primary and general elections by political broker Myeong Tae-gyun, who has stirred the political scene. Han pointed out, "From the perspective of politicians, many seem to regard election campaigning through opinion polls as one of the natural techniques. This is wrong and must be corrected."

He continued, "The issues we face now are difficult, but I hope this will be an opportunity to correct the problems of opinion polls and enable them to properly fulfill their function of reflecting public sentiment."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea released a recorded phone conversation between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Myeong during the presidential transition period, claiming it as evidence of their interference in the 2022 by-election nominations. Reporters asked Han for his thoughts immediately after the Supreme Council meeting and the discussion, but he did not respond.

Earlier, Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party, held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly, stating, "The Democratic Party secured evidence proving the president's interference in nominations through a tip received by the Public Interest Reporting Center," and released the audio file.

The played file contained President Yoon saying, "The Nomination Management Committee brought it to me, and since Kim Young-seon worked hard during the primary, I told them to let Kim Young-seon handle it, but there are many complaints from the party." Myeong responded, "I will never forget this lifelong favor. Thank you."