Lee Jae-myung strengthens poll lead after acquittal
Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, further solidified his lead in a presidential preference poll, following his acquittal last week of election law violations.
Lee had been accused of making false statements during the 2022 presidential election campaign regarding allegations raised during his time as mayor of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.
Specifically, he claimed not to have known the late Kim Moon-ki, who had been a director at the city's development corporation. Although Lee was convicted in the first trial, an appellate court overturned the ruling on Wednesday.
According to a poll conducted by Realmeter at the request of Energy Economy News, Lee recorded 49.5 percent in terms of suitability as the next president — a 2.6 percentage-point increase from the previous survey conducted from March 12 to 14. The latest poll was conducted from Wednesday to Friday last week among 1,510 adults nationwide, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.
Trailing Lee was Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, who has emerged as the ruling People Power Party's strongest contender after refusing to apologize to the National Assembly for President Yoon Suk Yeol's controversial martial law declaration on Dec. 3 last year. Kim received 16.3 percent support, down 1.8 percentage points from the previous survey.
Other People Power Party contenders included Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo at 7.1 percent (up 0.6 percentage point), former Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon at 6.7 percent (up 0.4 point) and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon at 4.8 percent (down 1.4 point).
Among other Democratic Party figures, Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon — often viewed as a key figure in the party's anti-Lee faction — garnered 1.8 percent support. Former Prime Ministers Lee Nak-yon and Kim Boo-kyum followed with 1.6 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively, while former South Gyeongsang Province Gov. Kim Kyung-soo received 0.8 percent.
By political bloc, a divide in support was evident.
Among Democratic Party supporters, Lee Jae-myung was the overwhelming favorite, backed by 90.8 percent. Within the People Power Party base, Kim Moon-soo led with 39.2 percent, followed by Hong Joon-pyo (17.7 percent), Han Dong-hoon (13.6 percent) and Oh Se-hoon (11.4 percent).
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