[Polpol News] "57% Support Impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol"

Gallup Poll Released on February 17
Support for President Yoon's Impeachment Declines, While Party Support Gap Narrows

Support for the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol significantly outpaced opposition, but the gap has narrowed.

According to a public opinion poll released on the 17th by Gallup (conducted from the 14th to the 16th, targeting 1,001 people aged 18 and over nationwide, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, and a response rate of 16.3%), the support rate for the People Power Party rose by 5 percentage points from last week to 39%. The Democratic Party's support remained at 36%, the same as last week.

Compared to when the support gap was twice as large (3rd week of December, People Power Party 24%, Democratic Party 48%), there has been a change in support rates. Gallup explained, "After the passage of the impeachment motion against President Yoon in mid-last month, the Democratic Party's support reached its highest level since the current administration began, widening the gap with the People Power Party. However, this month, the two major parties have returned to a nearly even footing similar to before the December 3.12 emergency martial law incident." By political inclination, 79% of conservatives support the People Power Party, while 72% of progressives support the Democratic Party.

Regarding the impeachment of President Yoon, who is currently suspended from duty due to the impeachment motion in the National Assembly, 57% of respondents supported impeachment, while 36% opposed it. Considering that support for impeachment was 75% in the 2nd week of December and 64% in the 2nd week of January, there is a downward trend. Conversely, opposition to impeachment rose from 21% to 32%.

Regarding the next presidential candidate, in an open-ended question, 31% of respondents named Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party. Following him were Kim Moon-soo, Minister of Employment and Labor, with 7%; Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, and Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party, each with 6%; Oh Se-hoon, Mayor of Seoul, with 4%; and Lee Jun-seok, member of the Reform New Party, with 2%.

Regarding the next presidential election's outcome, 40% agreed with the idea that a ruling party candidate should win to extend the current administration, while 48% agreed that an opposition party candidate should win to bring about a change in government.

For detailed information about the poll, please refer to the website of the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission.