President Moon and Democratic Party Approval Ratings Recover... Impact of COVID-19 Resurgence [Realmeter]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] President Moon Jae-in and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea are showing signs of recovery in their approval ratings. Amid indications of a new wave of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), hopes for minimizing quarantine and economic crises appear to have translated into support for the government and ruling party. As a result, the United Future Party experienced a 5.0 percentage point drop in approval ratings, marking the largest weekly decline since its founding.

According to Realmeter's survey commissioned by YTN conducted from the 24th to the 28th (2,521 respondents, 5.1% response rate, sampling error ±2.0% at 95% confidence level; detailed information available on the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website), on the 31st it was announced that President Moon's positive evaluation of state affairs rose by 2.9 percentage points from the previous week's weekly aggregate to 49.0%. Negative evaluations fell by 4.1 percentage points to 46.7%. This is the first time in seven weeks since the second week of July that positive evaluations have surpassed negative ones.

Notably, a 'COVID-19 rallying' phenomenon is appearing broadly regardless of region or age group. In fact, in Daegu and Gyeongbuk (TK), where the 'veto' sentiment against the government and ruling party was strongest, positive evaluations surged by a significant 8.9 percentage points, drawing attention. Additionally, increases were seen overall in Seoul (4.6 percentage points), women (3.7 percentage points), those in their 60s (7.5 percentage points), progressives (5.1 percentage points), and labor workers (6.0 percentage points). However, negative evaluations rose by 2.3 percentage points in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, and by 5.1 percentage points among those in their 30s.

In party support, the ruling party's rise was prominent. The Democratic Party recorded 40.4%, up 0.7 percentage points from the previous week, marking a two-week consecutive increase and recovering to the 40% range for the first time in nine weeks since the fourth week of June.

Conversely, the United Future Party, despite showing signs of severing ties with far-right forces that organized the Gwanghwamun rally, experienced a sharp decline in support. The party's rating dropped 5.0 percentage points from the previous week to 30.1%, marking a two-week consecutive decline. Realmeter analyzed, "Although the United Future Party denies connections with the Gwanghwamun rally and distances itself from Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon and others, it seems unable to change public opinion's direction yet."

Meanwhile, the People's Party rose by 2.0 percentage points to 4.6%, the Justice Party fell by 0.3 percentage points to 3.8%, and the Open Democratic Party decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 3.6%.

Meanwhile, in a perception survey on the extension of social distancing to level 2 (500 respondents, 6.9% response rate, sampling error ±4.4 percentage points at 95% confidence level), 59.5% responded that it was an 'appropriate decision considering the overall economic impact,' while 31.3% said 'it should be immediately raised to level 3 to prevent spread.'

By region, the majority responded that it was an 'appropriate measure.' In Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheong, 77.2% said it was appropriate, meaning more than three out of four people agreed. Similarly, in Gyeonggi and Incheon (66.2% appropriate vs. 22.9% need for level 3), Gwangju and Jeolla (61.6% vs. 32.7%), and Seoul (51.9% vs. 37.6%), 'appropriate measure' responses were predominant. TK also showed more support for 'appropriate measure' at 53.2% compared to 28.4% for 'need to raise to level 3.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.