Support for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea fell 7.0 percentage points in a week, allowing the opposition People Power Party to move ahead. Analysts attribute the shift to spreading criticism of the government and the ruling party, driven by security issues including a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone and policy disputes such as a comprehensive survey of farmland ownership.
According to a survey released by pollster Realmeter on the 12th, the People Power Party drew 41.3% support, up 2.9 percentage points from the previous week, while the Democratic Party drew 35.5%, down 7.0 percentage points. The gap between the two parties also reversed: the Democratic Party led by 4.1 percentage points a week earlier, but the People Power Party now holds a 5.8-point advantage.
The decline was most pronounced among the Democratic Party's core supporters. By age group, support among voters in their 40s plunged 17.0 percentage points from the previous week to 36.7%, while support among those in their 50s slipped 1.4 percentage points to 48.7%. By ideological leaning, Democratic Party support among self-identified progressives dropped 14.0 percentage points from a week earlier.
The reversal also showed up regionally. In Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, the Democratic Party led the People Power Party by 4.8 percentage points last week, but this week the People Power Party was ahead by 11.1 percentage points. In Seoul, the People Power Party led the Democratic Party by 5.8 percentage points, giving it an edge across the entire greater capital area.
The survey polled 1,004 eligible voters aged 18 and over nationwide on the 7th and 8th of this month. It was conducted entirely by automated response via mobile phone, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Further details are available on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.