"If You Want to See Levitation, Film Me"... Heo Kyung-young Nears 5% Approval Rating, Creating a 'Surprise'

Maintain 5% Support for 1 Month During Campaign to Join TV Debate
Can Debate Alongside Established Two-Party Candidates
Absurd Claims Like "Can Levitate," "IQ 430" Persist
Some Concern Voters Show 'Political Disgust' Symptoms
Experts Say "Voters Disappointed with Progressives and Conservatives Choose Minor Candidates"

On August 18th, Heo Kyung-young, the presidential candidate of the National Revolutionary Party, declared the 'Presidential Election Launch Ceremony' / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Huh Kyung-young, the presidential candidate of the National Revolutionary Party, has attracted attention by announcing that he will participate in a 'TV debate' alongside the presidential candidates of the two major parties. It appears that Candidate Huh aims to secure a 5% approval rating during next year's presidential election period to qualify for an invitation to the presidential candidate TV debate.

Known for extravagant statements such as "I can levitate" and "My IQ exceeds 400," along with equally absurd pledges, Candidate Huh has attempted to enter politics for decades, including running in the 1991 local elections. Recently, a public opinion poll showed him nearing a 5% approval rating, leading to claims that the 'Huh Kyung-young phenomenon' might be gaining traction.

◆Huh Kyung-young: "If you want an entertaining debate, vote for me"

In a recent post on his Facebook page, Candidate Huh stated, "Do you want an entertaining (presidential candidate) debate? If I surpass 5% (approval rating), you will see Huh Kyung-young in the debate. Approval rating, levitation, right now."

His remarks suggest that if he achieves a 5% approval rating during the presidential election period, he would qualify to participate in the upcoming presidential candidate TV debates.

According to the Public Official Election Act, minor candidates who record an approval rating of 5% or higher in various media polls during the election campaign period are allowed to attend broadcast debates. Since the election campaign period for next year's presidential election runs from February 15 to March 8, Candidate Huh must maintain an average approval rating of 5% from February to March 2022.

Candidate Heo appealing for support to participate in the presidential candidate debate / Photo by Heo Kyung-young Facebook capture

Consequently, Candidate Huh is actively appealing to voters for support. He emphasized on Facebook, "Instead of the boring two-party candidates, finally you can see Huh Kyung-young in the debate," and recently made headlines for making phone calls encouraging voting to a broad range of citizens.

Whether Candidate Huh can maintain an average approval rating of 5% during the campaign period remains uncertain. Once the full-scale election battle begins, support may consolidate around the candidates of the ruling and opposition parties, and media outlets commissioning polls might exclude minor candidates like Huh from survey lists.

◆Ranked 3rd in polls... Creating an upset ahead of next year's presidential election

However, there is also speculation that Candidate Huh could perform unexpectedly well. Notably, in a regular presidential candidate poll conducted by the polling firm Asia Research & Consulting on the 25th of last month, Huh recorded a 4.7% approval rating, ranking third overall. Although this is a modest figure compared to Yoon Seok-youl of the People Power Party (45.5%) and Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party (37.2%), it was higher than Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party (3.5%) and Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party (2.3%).

Although this is just one poll result, Candidate Huh's approval rating has been rising rapidly. Another poll conducted earlier last month showed a 2.2% approval rating, more than double the 1.07% vote share he received in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election. This has led some to speculate that his rating could reach 5% ahead of next year's presidential election.

Candidate Huh has attempted to enter politics since the 1991 local elections, over 30 years ago. Counting this 20th presidential election, this will be his third presidential run.

On April 6th, near Suyu Station in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, Candidate Heo is greeting supporters. / Photo by Yonhap News

Although his vote share has been low, it has steadily improved. He received 0.15% in the 1997 presidential election, 0.4% in the 2007 presidential election, and 1.07% in this year's April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, surpassing 1% for the first time.

Candidate Huh has sparked controversy multiple times with baseless and extravagant claims such as "I can levitate" and "My IQ is 430." During the 2007 presidential election, he was prosecuted for defamation after spreading rumors of an engagement with former President Park Geun-hye and was sentenced to one year and six months in prison.

His pledges have been criticized as equally absurd. At the event where he declared his presidential candidacy last August, he announced a policy to provide an 'emergency livelihood support fund' of 100 million won per person to all citizens within two months of taking office, and also claimed he would give a monthly 'national dividend' of 1.5 million won. He further promised a marriage allowance of 100 million won, housing funds of 200 million won, and 50 million won per child born, emphasizing, "Young people who cannot marry because of money are eagerly waiting for my appearance."

Regarding how to secure the budget to support such massive cash payments, he claimed, "If we save 70% of the annual budget of 550 trillion won, 385 trillion won remains. Additionally, by reducing prisons by 90%, switching to a property-proportional fine system to secure 100 trillion won annually, and collecting 200 trillion won through anti-tax evasion measures, we can secure 758 trillion won every year."

◆Experts: "Huh Kyung-young benefits as dislike for major party candidates rises"

Some citizens express concern over the steady rise in Candidate Huh's popularity. There are claims that political disgust among those disappointed with established parties is causing them to be swayed by figures like Candidate Huh.

A 20-something office worker, Mr. A, said, "In the past, I just found it amusing when he said he had supernatural powers or could levitate, but I think it's problematic that someone like this is actually running for president and gaining a significant number of votes. I'm worried that people are taking the position of 'president' less seriously."

A 40-something company employee, Mr. B, commented, "With both ruling and opposition candidates embroiled in various corruption allegations and controversies, many people feel disillusioned with established politics, so it seems that outsiders are gaining ground. Didn't former U.S. President Trump get elected in a similar way?"

Experts analyze that Candidate Huh has benefited as voters disappointed with existing progressive and conservative parties seek alternative forces.

Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "Dislike for the ruling and opposition candidates expected to run in the next presidential election is increasing. People who cannot choose between progressives or conservatives seem to have decided that rather than wasting their votes, they would rather choose Huh Kyung-young."

He added, "From a policy perspective, as the competition over pledges intensifies, many cash support policies have emerged. Although there are differences in intensity, it is true that some of Candidate Huh's pledges are similar. As political policies converge with those of Candidate Huh, voters have begun to reevaluate him."

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