Former NIS Director Park Ji-won Tops General Election Polls 4 Consecutive Times with Overwhelming Lead

Park Ji-won’s Side: New Namdo Politics Hub 'Haenam, Wando, Jindo' Will Show Presence

In the New Year, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won overwhelmingly ranked first in two rounds of parliamentary preference polls conducted by Gwangju MBC, Gwangju KBS, and others in Haenam, Wando, and Jindo. Including two polls conducted last year by KBC Gwangju Broadcasting, former Director Park Ji-won is dominating with four consecutive wins.

Specifically, in the parliamentary candidate preference polls, former Director Park recorded 45% in the joint poll conducted by four regional media outlets?Gwangju MBC, Jeonnam Ilbo, Mudeung Ilbo, and Newsis Honam Bureau?and 42% in the New Year poll by KBS Gwangju, securing first place well beyond the margin of error compared to the second-place candidate.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Notably, among Democratic Party supporters, former Director Park received 50% support (joint poll) and 47% (KBS Gwangju poll), further widening the gap. In the Gwangju KBC polls conducted in September and December last year, he garnered 47.1% (second place 17.4%) and 38.7% (second place 16.8%) support, respectively. In terms of suitability as a Democratic Party candidate, he achieved 52.4% (second place 16.3%) and 42% (second place 17.3%), securing an overwhelming first place.

Former Director Park expressed gratitude to the local residents for these poll results and stated, “I will continue to work humbly and diligently.”

Particularly noteworthy in this poll, according to former Director Park’s camp, was the criterion used by respondents in Haenam, Wando, and Jindo for selecting parliamentary candidates.

In the joint poll by the four regional media outlets, the most common criterion for choosing a parliamentary candidate in the Gwangju-Jeonnam area was “a local figure who has worked in local government or regional councils.”

However, in Haenam, Wando, and Jindo, respondents notably chose “experience in central politics” (39%) as their reason for selection. This reflects both former Director Park Ji-won’s prominent presence in central Honam politics, actively opposing the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, and the local residents’ recognition that securing national budget and national projects for the development of Haenam, Wando, and Jindo is most urgent.

Following this, respondents cited “a local figure who has worked in local government or regional councils” (26%), “bureaucrats such as heads or vice ministers of central government ministries” (9%), “figures with experience in civic organizations” (6%), and “professionals such as legal experts or professors” (5%) in that order.

Additionally, in the New Year poll conducted by KBS Gwangju, respondents from Haenam, Wando, and Jindo cited “expertise and ability” (37%) as the primary reason for supporting a parliamentary candidate, demonstrating their commitment to regional development.

“Morality and integrity” (24%), “campaign pledges” (14%), party affiliation and ideology (12%), likelihood of winning (3%), reputation or advice from acquaintances (2%), and regional, academic, or familial ties (1%) followed.

Regarding this, former Director Park’s camp declared, “We will stand at the forefront to fulfill the aspirations of local residents, achieve groundbreaking development in Haenam, Wando, and Jindo, unify the Democratic Party, win the general election against the unilateral rule of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, and bring about a change of government.”

The joint New Year poll by the four regional media outlets including Gwangju MBC was conducted by Korea Research from December 28 to 29 last year, surveying 509 men and women aged 18 or older residing in the electoral district. The New Year poll by KBS Gwangju was conducted by Gallup Korea on December 29 last year, surveying 510 men and women aged 18 or older residing in the same electoral district. Both polls have a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of ±4.3 percentage points. The KBC Gwangju Broadcasting polls conducted in September and December last year were carried out by Research View from September 22 to 23 and December 15 to 16, respectively. Both polls surveyed 500 men and women aged 18 or older residing in the electoral district, with a 95% confidence level and a margin of error of ±4.4 percentage points.

More detailed information on the polls conducted by each media outlet can be found on the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.

Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Oh Seung-geun just8440@asiae.co.kr

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