Latest news with #pro-Yoon
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Korea Herald
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
[Who's Ahead] Lee rebounds, extends double-digit lead over Kim
The Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung, reversed his slide a week before the election, widening his lead over conservative rival Kim Moon-soo back into double digits, poll results showed Wednesday. Lee Jae-myung garnered 49.2 percent support, while Kim of the conservative People Power Party received 36.8 percent. Lee Jun-seok of the minor conservative New Reform Party secured 10.3 percent, according to a poll conducted by local pollster Realmeter on 1,003 eligible voters aged 18 and older from Monday to Tuesday — the final days on which polling was permitted ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Lee Jae-myung's approval rating had been on a downward trend since Kim was finalized as the candidate of the People Power Party, marking 50.2 percent, 48.1 percent and 46.6 percent in polls released on May 19, 22 and 24, respectively, by the same company. By contrast, Kim peaked at 38.6 percent in the May 22 poll, which was conducted after the first televised debate on May 18, but his support has been continuously ebbing since then. The gap between Lee and Kim during that period narrowed from 14.6 to 9.5 and then to 9 percentage points. However, Wednesday's poll shows the gap widening again to 12.4 percentage points. Kim's approval rate was affected by 'both consolidation and division within the conservative camp,' according to Realmeter's analysis. 'Former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye declared their support for him, while figures like Han Dong-hoon called for breaking away from the entrenched pro-Yoon establishment politics, and Lee Jun-seok refused to merge candidacies,' the analysis read. The poll results indicate some defections among Lee Jun-seok's supporters in their 20s and among students, with his support having been on an upward trajectory until peaking at 10.4 percent in the poll released on May 24. Support for Lee Jun-seok among moderate voters was on an upward trend, rising from 12.6 percent to 13.3, 14.6 and 15.1 percent in polls released on May 19, 22, 24 and Wednesday. During the same period, Lee Jae-myung's support among middle-of-the-road voters stood at 53.3, 50.4, 48.4 and 50.8 percent, while Kim's favorability in the moderate bloc recorded 30.0, 30.9, 32.4 and 30.8 percent — reflecting a rebound for Lee and a slight dip for Kim this week. Observers underscored the importance of Kim's efforts to appeal to moderate voters. 'We need to clearly understand what moderate voters want and offer a message that resonates with them," said Jung Youn-kuk, former presidential spokesperson for Park and public relations adviser to the People Power Party's election committee, during an interview with local broadcaster YTN on Wednesday. Bae Jong-ho, public relations adviser to the Democratic Party's election committee, said during the same interview, "Rallying the conservative base is a necessary condition, but it's not a sufficient one" for Kim to win the election. Bae also predicted that Lee Jun-seok's decision during the last televised presidential debate on Tuesday to refer explicitly to misogynistic and sexually violent online comments allegedly made by Lee Jae-myung's son could have significant consequences. 'While polling will be blacked out during the final stretch of the campaign, this particular remark could cause certain voter groups — especially those in their 20s and 30s, moderates, and women — to turn their backs on him,' Bae said. "If Lee fails to break through the 10 percent barrier at the election in the end, I believe the gaffe could very well lead to a disappointing result."
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Korea Herald
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
[Who's Ahead] Lee rebounds, reopens double-digit lead over Kim
The Democratic Party's presidential candidate, Lee Jae-myung, reversed his slide a week before the election, widening his lead over conservative rival Kim Moon-soo back into double digits, poll results showed Wednesday. Lee Jae-myung garnered 49.2 percent support, while Kim of the conservative People Power Party received 36.8 percent. Lee Jun-seok of the minor conservative New Reform Party secured 10.3 percent, according to a poll conducted by local pollster Realmeter on 1,003 eligible voters aged 18 and older from Monday to Tuesday — the final days on which polling was permitted ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Lee Jae-myung's approval rating had been on a downward trend since Kim was finalized as the candidate of the People Power Party, marking 50.2 percent, 48.1 percent, and 46.6 percent in polls released on May 19, 22, and 24, respectively, by the same company. Kim, by contrast, peaked at 38.6 percent in the May 22 poll, which was conducted after the first televised debate on May 18, but his support has been continuously ebbing since then. The gap between Lee and Kim during that period narrowed from 14.6 to 9.5 and then to 9 percentage points. However, Wednesday's poll shows the gap widening again to 12.4 percentage points. Kim's approval rate was affected by 'both consolidation and division within the conservative camp,' according to Realmeter's analysis. 'Former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye declared their support for him, while figures like Han Dong-hoon called for breaking away from the entrenched pro-Yoon establishment politics, and Lee Jun-seok refused to merge candidacies,' the analysis read. The poll results indicate some defections among Lee Jun-seok's supporters in their 20s and among students, with his support having been on an upward trajectory until peaking at 10.4 percent in the poll released on May 24. Support for Lee Jun-seok among moderate voters was on an upward trend, rising from 12.6 percent to 13.3, 14.6, and 15.1 percent in polls released on May 19, 22, 24, and Wednesday. During the same period, Lee Jae-myung's support among middle-of-the-road voters stood at 53.3, 50.4, 48.4, and 50.8 percent, while Kim's favorability in the moderate bloc recorded 30.0, 30.9, 32.4, and 30.8 percent — reflecting a rebound for Lee and a slight dip for Kim this week. Observers underscored the importance of Kim's efforts to appeal to moderate voters. 'We need to clearly understand what moderate voters want and offer a message that resonates with them," said Jung Youn-kuk, former presidential spokesperson for Park and public relations adviser to the PPP's election committee, during an interview with local broadcaster YTN on Wednesday. Bae Jong-ho, public relations adviser to the Democratic Party's election committee, said during the same interview, "Rallying the conservative base is a necessary condition, but it's not a sufficient one" for Kim to win the election. Bae also predicted that Lee Jun-seok's decision during the last televised presidential debate on Tuesday to refer explicitly to a misogynistic and sexually violent expression allegedly made by Lee Jae-myung's son could have significant consequences. 'While polling will be blacked out during the final stretch of the campaign, this particular remark could cause certain voter groups — especially those in their 20s and 30s, moderates, and women — to turn their backs on him,' Bae said. "If Lee fails to break through the 10 percent barrier at the election in the end, I believe the gaffe could very well lead to a disappointing result."
Korea Herald
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Debate between conservative presidential hopefuls dissolves into mudslinging, blame game
The debate between two presidential hopefuls vying for the ruling People Power Party's nomination held Friday transformed into a mudslinging match, as both brushed off accusations against each other as 'lies.' Tensions escalated during a televised one-on-one debate between former People Power Party Chair Han Dong-hoon and ex-Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, part of the second round of the conservative party's primary. Hong, during the debate, claimed that former President Yoon Suk Yeol had planned to name Han Dong-hoon prime minister and turn him into his 'successor,' if Han, who was the party's interim leader at the time, had led the People Power Party into victory during last year's general election. Hong claimed that Yoon informed him of such a plan during a private dinner that took place four days after the April 10 election. Han shot back, telling him 'not to lie' and stressed that he was asked to step down as interim leader in January last year. Hong then retorted, saying that Han's resignation 'comes later in the story.' In January last year, ahead of the April 10 general election, Han revealed that he had rejected the presidential office's request to step down from the leadership role. In the weeks prior to Han's announcement, there had been growing speculations and reports of a widening rift between then-President Yoon and Han, due to their contradicting views on how to deal with the scandals surrounding Yoon's wife, ex-first lady Kim Keon Hee. Following the ruling party's defeat in the general election, in which the Democratic Party secured a majority of the 300 seats in the National Assembly, Han was often criticized by the pro-Yoon faction as the main reason behind the conservative bloc's loss. Han later stepped down in December 2024, citing difficulties tied to growing internal strife within the ruling party after the National Assembly voted to impeach Yoon over his failed Dec. 3 martial law bid. The two candidates also blamed each other for failing to prevent Yoon's martial law declaration. At one point, Hong took a jab at Han, saying that if he were the leader of the ruling party at the time, both 'the martial law and the impeachment' would not have happened. The ex-Daegu Mayor added that the leader of the ruling party must cooperate with the president, highlighting Han's rift with Yoon at the time. In response, Han said that 'someone like Hong, who continued to shower the (former) president with flattery as he stood next to him, has responsibility over martial law.' Hong and Han are two of the four remaining candidates in the People Power Party's primary race for the June 3 election, after the field was narrowed from eight earlier this week. According to a Gallup Korea survey released Friday, asking respondents about their favorite potential future president, former Democratic Party of Korea Chair Lee Jae-myung led with an overwhelming 38 percent. Han trailed behind with 8 percent, while Hong came in at No. 3 with 7 percent. Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, both received support of 6 percent. The poll involved 1,005 respondents aged 18 or older and was conducted from Tuesday to Thursday.
Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Former president Yoon's shadow looms large over his party ahead of June 3 polls
A policeman stands guard as pro-Yoon supporters hold signs and flags outside the Central District Court in Seoul on April 21. PHOTO: AFP SEOUL – As South Korea gears up to elect a new leader in less than two months , impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol's influence is still palpable on the political scene. His ruling People Power Party (PPP) is struggling with internal fracture in the aftermath of Yoon's ouster upheld by the country's Constitutional Court on April 4, over his shock martial law declaration on Dec 3, 2024. While Yoon loyalists within the party seek to leverage the former president's vocal supporter base, other party members believe it is crucial for the PPP to sever ties with the disgraced president in order to have a shot with the swing voters. On April 22, the beleaguered party unveiled its shortlist of four candidates for the presidential primary, which was based entirely on an opinion poll of 4,000 respondents . The candidates – narrowed down from an original eight – include former transport minister Kim Moon-soo and former Daegu city mayor Hong Joon-pyo, both Yoon supporters. Also in the mix are former party chief Han Dong-hoon, and lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo who wants Yoon expelled from the party for his martial law blunder. Results from the poll showed former Minister Kim leading at 30.72 per cent, Mr Han at 20.28 per cent, Mr Hong at 17 per cent and Mr Ahn at 11.3 per cent. Front runner Mr Kim rose to popularity, particularly among Yoon supporters, after he was the only Cabinet minister who refused to bow in apology during a parliamentary session on Dec 11, 2024, for failing to prevent the martial law debacle. Mr Hong, in a policy pledge speech on April 18, spoke out against the calls for Yoon's expulsion from the party, saying that the former president had 'played a key role in bringing about a change in government under the PPP's name'. Mr Han, a former justice minister, is Yoon's confidant-turned-foe. He had initially led the party to reject the National Assembly's first impeachment attempt against Yoon, but turned on him when allegations emerged that the president was trying to round up and detain his political rivals, including Mr Han, as part of his martial law decree. PPP will pick its final candidate at a party convention on May 3 . Yoon is currently facing criminal charges of insurrection for his failed martial law attempt. Mr Ahn, a fourth-time presidential hopeful, had dropped out of the 2022 presidential race just days before the election and thrown his support behind Yoon, who went on to win a marginal victory over top contender Lee Jae-myung from the opposition Democratic Party. Associate Professor Hannah Kim, from Seoul's Sogang University Graduate School of International Studies, told The Straits Times that the split in attitudes of the four candidates shows strong divisions within the PPP. The fact that there were so many contenders within the party emphasised the party's 'struggles to unify behind a single candidate and project cohesion', she said. The divide within PPP contrasts starkly with the opposition Democratic Party's (DP), which has thrown its weight behind Mr Lee, its former leader. Mr Lee has been sweeping his party's regional primaries and looks set to be cemented as the liberal party's presidential candidate when the party decides on April 27. He has consistently led opinion polls as South Korean's preferred presidential pick, hitting a record lead over other potential candidates in the latest poll conducted by Gallup Korea released on April 17. The poll showed that 38 per cent out of 1,000 respondents favoured Mr Lee. Tied for second place at a very distant 6 per cent are acting President Han Duck-soo, PPP's former mayor Hong, former Minister Kim and former party chief Mr Han. Adding fuel to PPP's troubles was the attempt by Yoon's lawyers to set up a new political party called Yoon Again, named after Yoon supporters' rally call for the ousted president to return to politics . Two of Yoon's defence lawyers from his impeachment trial had planned to announce the launch of the new party on April 18, but cancelled their planned press conference hours later. The lawyers said Yoon played no role in their initiative, and had personally asked them to call it off. 'In the ongoing context of a potential early presidential election, officially launching a party may spark speculation that the president is trying to wield influence or pursue political ambitions – which is not what we intended,' the two lawyers later said in a press statement. A PPP insider , who is part of Yoon's inner circle, told The Straits Times on the condition of anonymity that the senior party leaders were livid at the announcement that caught them by surprise. The insider claimed that while both Yoon and the PPP party leaders had heard about the 'vague plans' of a new political party by young Yoon supporters, they were of the impression that the party would be formed only after the presidential elections and were not aware that the lawyers would be fronting it. 'The whole thing was so mismanaged! Party members were on a witch hunt, asking one another whether they knew that this was coming,' the source said, adding that the misstep contributed to the widening gulf between Yoon supporters, many of whom are senior party leaders, and the anti-Yoon camp within the party. Among voters, loyalty to the former president also appears to hold sway. Madam Kim Kyung-soo, a hardcore Yoon supporter, told ST that she supports Mr Kim because of his affiliation with Yoon, and objects to Mr Han because she sees him as a traitor who turned his back on Yoon. But the 73-year-old conceded that 'we are all conservatives at the end of the day, so we will still vote as one for the chosen PPP candidate when the election time comes'. And in a race that is increasingly likely to be won by DP's Mr Lee, Prof Kim emphasises the need for a unified PPP if it still hopes to run a credible race come June 3. 'With just about 40 days remaining till the snap election, there simply isn't enough time for these contenders to fight among themselves regarding Yoon's actions. The party needs to rally together behind one candidate and present a unified front, and focus on showing voters the forward-looking policy agendas of the PPP,' she warned. Wendy Teo is The Straits Times' South Korea correspondent based in Seoul. She covers issues concerning the two Koreas. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Korea Herald
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
PPP contenders wary of Yoon Suk Yeol's shadow lingering into election
Candidates vying for the People Power Party's presidential nomination voiced concerns over former President Yoon Suk Yeol's continued activities despite his removal from office, with some in the conservative bloc saying that his continued visibility -- and his avid supporters -- could sabotage the party ahead of the June 3 presidential election. Such concerns were raised after Yoon was spotted meeting with lawyers who defended him at the Constitutional Court in his impeachment trial. On April 4, in a unanimous ruling, the court removed Yoon from office. Kim Gye-ri, one of Yoon's lawyers, uploaded a photo of herself, Yoon and fellow attorney Bae Ui-cheol to Facebook on Saturday. The three are seen smiling at the camera in a restaurant, and the caption reads: "The first president I voted for with my own hand -- Father Yoon. Be calm and strong.' Two contenders for the People Power Party's presidential nomination -- Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo -- both called on the party to completely cut ties with Yoon in order to win the upcoming election. Yoo said on a radio show on Monday that it is 'wrong' for the People Power Party to 'continue to hold onto Yoon' when its focus should be 'preventing the worst political situation ahead of us.' Rep. Ahn said, "It is a betrayal of our democracy's Constitution and of the rule of law to side with the former president without any reflection or regret, even after (Yoon) was impeached for violating both the Constitution and law." Ahn was one of the few conservative lawmakers who voted for Yoon's impeachment at the National Assembly in December following his short-lived martial law declaration. 'Rep. Na Kyung-won, Kim Moon-soo and Hong Joon-pyo, who walked beside Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon (in far-right rallies) must now clearly state their positions. If they plan to continue to follow Jeon's beliefs and cannot cut ties with him, then they must join his party for the election,' he added, referring to how those three contenders were seen communicating with Rev. Jeon, a far-right activist and avid Yoon supporter, in previous political rallies. Eyes are on whether Yoon will continue working to build clout with his avid supporters. On Friday, Yoon's attorneys decided to postpone the launch of a new political party aimed at supporting the former president, and they canceled a scheduled press conference. They cited newfound concerns that a "Yoon Again" party could lead to misunderstandings about Yoon's intentions and that the ousted president convinced them not to follow through with the launch. On the same day that Kim shared the photo on Facebook, Jeon declared his own bid for the presidency. Jeon, who led several key pro-Yoon and anti-impeachment rallies ahead of the Constitutional Court ruling early this month, said his goal is to prevent any of the current eight contenders vying for the conservative party's nomination from being elected as president. 'I will never allow the eight (candidates) from the People Power Party to get elected, even if it means former Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung gets elected. I plan to show them what we can do,' Jeon said as he announced his candidacy at a rally organized by the Liberty Unification Party. His other pledges announced Saturday include disbanding the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the National Election Commission; "eradicating" the Constitutional Court justices who voted to oust Yoon; and bringing about the dissolution of the National Assembly. Jeon is expected to enter the race as a candidate for the minor far-right Liberty Unification Party, the successor to the Christian Liberal Party launched by the pastor in 2016. Jeon was also briefly the leader of the LUP in 2022. Former main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung has been leading several polls, with a wide gap between him and the conservative presidential contenders. According to the survey conducted by Realmeter released Monday, Lee came in at No. 1 with 50.2 percent, surpassing the 50 percent mark for the first time. The survey involved 1,504 adults aged over 18 and was conducted from Wednesday to Friday. Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, a conservative contender, came in at No. 2 with 12.2 percent, up 1.3 percentage points on the week. Former People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon followed at 8.5 percent, while ex-Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo came in at 7.5 percent. South Korea will hold an early presidential election on June 3 following the Constitutional Court's decision to remove former President Yoon Suk Yeol from office over his short-lived imposition of martial law in December.
