General Election Party Support... Democratic Party 43.8% vs. Korean Party 24.5%

by Heo Midam

Published 02 Jan.2020 07:19(KST)

The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Heo Midam] As SBS conducted a New Year's public opinion poll to mark 2020, the Democratic Party of Korea showed the highest party approval rating.

On the 1st, SBS, together with the polling agency Ipsos Korea, surveyed 1,016 adults nationwide regarding party support for the National Assembly general election to be held on April 15. The results showed Democratic Party 43.8%, Liberty Korea Party 24.5%, Justice Party 7%, Bareunmirae Party 6%, Our Republican Party 1.3%, Alternative New Party 0.6%, Democratic Peace Party 0.5%, Minjung Party 0.4%, in that order. The response of having no preferred party or not knowing was 15.1%.

In the metropolitan area, Chungcheong, Honam, and Gangwon·Jeju regions, the Democratic Party led, while in Daegu·Gyeongbuk, the Liberty Korea Party showed dominance. In Busan·Ulsan·Gyeongnam, the support rates for the two parties were similar.

Also, more than half expected that this general election would create a National Assembly with a ruling party majority and opposition minority. The response that the ruling Democratic Party would secure a majority of seats was 51.3%, while 38.2% expected the opposition parties to hold the majority.

Public demand for a turnover of incumbent National Assembly members was also high. When asked if they would support the incumbent district assembly member running again, 39.5% said they would support, while 47.6% said they would not.

Regarding what kind of lawmakers should increase in the new National Assembly, 32.6% chose lawmakers with expert backgrounds, 21.5% chose lawmakers who can break regional structures, 19.3% chose youth generation lawmakers, 19% chose lawmakers representing their income class, and 4.4% chose female lawmakers.