Kim Dongyeon Team Calls for Replacement of Controversial Polling Agency Over Fairness Concerns

The campaign team of Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dongyeon, a presidential primary candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea, has called for the exclusion of a controversial polling agency and requested that observers be allowed to monitor the public opinion survey process.

On April 21, Kim's team released three demands aimed at ensuring a fair primary and boosting public interest in the race.

Yonhap News

Among the demands is a request to replace the polling agency at the center of fairness concerns with another firm. Kim's team specifically pointed to 'Signal & Pulse,' stating, "It has been repeatedly pointed out that this company was effectively excluded from participating in surveys during last year's general election due to fairness controversies. We urge that the company be replaced with another polling agency."

Previously, Ko Youngin, former lawmaker and chief supporter of Kim's campaign, raised the issue by saying, "The agency that was effectively excluded from the nomination process for last year's general election due to fairness concerns has simply changed its name and is now conducting ARS voting in the current presidential primary." At the time, Ko called on the party leadership and others to thoroughly investigate the matter and take action against the problematic agency.

Regarding the public opinion survey, Kim's team also requested, "We ask for measures that will allow each campaign's observers to view the survey process itself in a more transparent manner." They explained that this is to both guarantee the observers' substantive right to monitor and to ensure the credibility of the opinion polls.

Additionally, the campaign demanded that candidate introduction text messages be sent this week to party members with voting rights in the Honam region and the Seoul metropolitan area. Kim's team stated, "There is currently no way to inform all eligible party members about the candidates," adding, "Sending text messages is necessary to encourage greater participation in voting among party members."