National Assembly Audit Showdown Looms After the Holiday
Targeting Weaknesses of the Government and Ruling Party
Hopes for a Rebound in Approval Ratings
The People Power Party has been struggling, recording approval ratings stuck in the high 10% to low 20% range for the 17th consecutive week. With its approval ratings failing to rebound before Chuseok and its ability to confront the ruling party weakened, attention is now focused on whether the party can turn the tide through the first National Assembly audit of the Lee Jaemyung administration.
According to the National Barometer Survey (NBS), conducted by Embrain Public, Kstat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research from September 29 to October 1 among 1,003 adults aged 18 and over and released on October 2, the People Power Party's approval rating stood at 22%, unchanged from two weeks prior. For more details, refer to the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.
During the same period, the Democratic Party of Korea's approval rating was 41%, maintaining a lead over the People Power Party outside the margin of error. Despite taking strong measures such as filibusters, outdoor rallies, and protest assemblies, there is a sense of embarrassment within the party over the stagnant approval ratings.
The People Power Party desperately needs a breakthrough through the upcoming National Assembly audit. Immediately after the Chuseok holiday, the National Assembly will begin the 2025 audit from October 13 to October 30, spanning 18 days. The audit is typically considered the "stage for the opposition," as it scrutinizes the mistakes of the government and the ruling party. As this is the first audit since the launch of the Lee Jaemyung administration and with major issues such as the South Korea-U.S. customs negotiations and the government IT network paralysis caused by a fire at the National Information Resources Service, fierce confrontations between the ruling and opposition parties are expected.
People Power Party representative Jang Donghyuk is greeting soldiers on the 30th at the GOP Battalion of the 2nd Brigade, 6th Infantry Division, Army, in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi Province. 2025.9.30 Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
The People Power Party is determined to overcome its poor approval ratings by focusing on issues such as the testimony of Kim Hyunji, the First Secretary to the President, and the difficulties in the South Korea-U.S. customs negotiations. The party plans to highlight problems currently facing the government and the ruling party to stir up anti-Lee Jaemyung sentiment. A key official from the People Power Party told Asia Economy, "We need momentum to keep issues like the National Information Resources Service fire and the customs negotiations in the spotlight," adding, "We will present bold approaches rather than predictable moves."
The party also expects that suspicions regarding a Democratic Party-affiliated city councilor mobilizing a religious group for the primary election will work in their favor. A People Power Party official stated, "The Democratic Party has pressured us over alleged ties with the Unification Church, but now a similar controversy has erupted within their own ranks," adding, "This will be a hot topic discussed at Chuseok family gatherings." The People Power Party plans to use this suspicion to boost its fighting spirit throughout the holiday and highlight the issue during the audit.
However, this year, due to the early presidential election, the audit will cover both the Yoon Sukyeol administration and the Lee Jaemyung administration, meaning the ruling party's attacks on the previous government are also expected to intensify. This is why the People Power Party is struggling to find effective points of attack. There are even voices within the opposition expressing concern that the quality of the audit may decline compared to the previous year.
A senior People Power Party lawmaker said in a phone interview, "Hardline protests such as outdoor rallies may satisfy lawmakers themselves, but they do not look good in the eyes of the public. Focusing on the audit is the best strategy," but added, "With the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit taking place at the end of the month, our ability to concentrate our efforts on confronting the ruling party during the audit will inevitably be dispersed."
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