Concerns Grow Over Recent Poll Results
Party Leadership Adopts "Cautious Mode"
Presidential Hopefuls Frustrated by Lack of Strategy
As President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial approaches its final stages, the People Power Party is deeply concerned about targeting the centrist voters. There are conflicting voices between those who argue for cautious response to the centrist voter exodus and those who insist on expanding the support base now to prepare for the possibility of an early presidential election.
According to political circles on the 24th, the People Power Party has recently shown mixed reactions to the poll results regarding the loss of centrist voters. Gallup Korea revealed in a survey conducted from the 18th to the 20th that the People Power Party's support rate among centrists (22%) dropped by 10 percentage points in just one week. The gap in centrist support between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party widened from 5 percentage points to 20 percentage points (for detailed information, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website).
Kwon Young-se, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th. 2025.2.24 Photo by Kim Hyun-min
The party leadership is currently in cautious mode. Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "We humbly accept the poll results," but drew a line on immediate response by adding, "It is not appropriate to evaluate trends based on a single poll." This reflects the judgment that public opinion will fluctuate again once the impeachment trial results or President Yoon's messages are released. The fact that they cannot publicly enter early election mode until the impeachment trial results are out also limits their actions. Kim Dae-sik, the chief floor spokesperson of the People Power Party, said, "It is too hasty to conclude that centrists have left at this point," adding, "We believe it should not happen, but if the impeachment is accepted, public opinion will change depending on the situation and the president's message at that time."
The pro-Yoon faction is also focusing more on the hardline supporters than on centrists. They believe that even after the impeachment trial results, they must unite the hardline supporters opposing impeachment and the anti-Lee Jae-myung forces to respond. Representative Yoon Sang-hyun said, "The essence of President Yoon's impeachment and detention situation is that liberal democracy and the rule of law are collapsing," adding, "Informing people of this is how to win over the centrists."
On the other hand, among ruling party hopefuls who have entered early election mode, voices are emerging that "we must prepare even now." While Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, is continuously rolling out policies targeting centrists, there is also a sense of dissatisfaction within the ruling party that it is struggling to find a balance between centrists and hardline supporters. Representative Ahn Cheol-soo emphasized, "Showing sincerity in implementing policies that appeal to centrists is ultimately the way to win," adding, "In the early election phase where each day feels like a month under immense pressure, we must prepare quickly." Former Representative Yoo Seung-min also expressed concern on social media, saying, "If conservatives do not get their act together, they may lose not only the center but even their home turf," warning, "It will not just be a tilted playing field but a field pushed into the corner."
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