[PollPollNews] Lee Jaemyung Scores 51% in Gallup... Economic Outlook Also Improves, Highest in Three Years

Overwhelming Support Among Those in Their 40s and 50s... Close Race in the 60s
Democratic Party Approval Rating Rises by 6 Percentage Points to 48%
Economic Optimism Reaches Highest Level in Three Years

In a regular public opinion poll conducted by Gallup Korea ahead of the 21st presidential election, Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, received an approval rating exceeding 50%. It is also notable that the survey revealed a sense of optimism regarding the economic outlook after the election, with expectations for improvement.

According to the poll released by Gallup on the 16th (conducted from the 13th to the 15th with 1,004 respondents nationwide aged 18 and older, using mobile phone interviews; margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level; response rate was 16.4%), Lee Jaemyung ranked first in the 6·3 presidential election candidate preference survey with 51%, a lead beyond the margin of error. Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party candidate, received 29%, while Lee Junseok, the Reform New Party candidate, received 8%. Other candidates accounted for 1%, and 12% of respondents withheld their opinions.

By age group, Lee Jaemyung garnered the highest support, with 36% among those in their 20s, 47% in their 30s, 73% in their 40s, and 65% in their 50s. Among those in their 60s, Lee Jaemyung received 46% and Kim Moonsoo 45%, showing a close contest.

Among those aged 70 and older, Kim Moonsoo led with 52%, while Lee Jaemyung received 31%. Lee Junseok received 24% support among those in their 20s and 14% among those in their 30s, but recorded single-digit support in other age groups.

By region, Lee Jaemyung was ahead in the Seoul metropolitan area, Honam, and Chungcheong regions. However, in Daegu·Gyeongbuk, he received 34% support, trailing behind Kim Moonsoo, who received 48%. In Busan·Ulsan·Gyeongnam, Lee Jaemyung received 41%, while Kim Moonsoo received 39%. The survey results suggest that Lee Jaemyung has the potential to perform well in the Yeongnam region, which has traditionally been a weak area for the Democratic Party, compared to previous presidential elections.

This survey, conducted after a three-week interval, also showed changes in party support. The Democratic Party's support rose by 6 percentage points, from 42% in the third week of April to 48%. In contrast, support for the People Power Party fell by 4 percentage points, from 34% to 30%.

A similar trend was observed in the National Barometer Survey (NBS), jointly conducted by Embrain Public, KSTAT Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research (from the 12th to the 14th, with 1,000 respondents aged 18 and older, using mobile phone interviews), which was released the previous day. In this survey, Lee Jaemyung received 49%, Kim Moonsoo 27%, and Lee Junseok 7%.

The latest Gallup poll also included a one-year economic outlook, which showed a significant improvement in economic sentiment. While only 24% expected the economy to improve in the April survey, this figure rose by 9 percentage points to 33% in the latest poll. Gallup explained, "Economic optimism is at its highest point in three years, and pessimism is at its lowest, making the outlook more hopeful than just before the 2022 presidential election and the early days of the Yoon Sukyeol administration."

For more detailed information regarding the public opinion polls, please refer to the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.