PPP Leads Governing DPK For First Time In Nearly Five Years-Poll

The latest Gallup opinion poll from South Korea shows the opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP) with a slender one-point lead over the governing centrist Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the first time the opposition has been ahead in party approval ratings in five years.

• Gallup Korea poll: Party Support: PPP (Conservative): 32%, DPK (Liberal): 31% (-1), Justice Party (JP, Centre-left): 5% (+1), People Party (PP, Centrist): 3%, ODP (Liberal): 3%. No support: 25%. +/- vs. 29 June - 1 July 2021. Fieldwork: 6-8 July 2021
• The DPK is about to embark on the candidate selection process for next year's presidential election - due on 9 March. Incumbent President Moon Jae-in from the DPK cannot stand again, with South Korean presidents limited to one six-year term in office.
• The DPK is set to announce the 6-person shortlist for the party's presidential primary on 11 July, with the final result set to be revealed by 10 September. Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and the incumbent governor of Gyeonggi province, Lee Jae-myung, are viewed as early frontrunners for the DPK nomination having recently announced their candidacies.
• On the PPP side, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl is seen as the frontrunner despite not being a representative of the party. His anti-corruption fight when in office has seen him soar to the top of national polls of favoured next presidents. The PPP faces a task in convincing Yoon to join the party and serve as its presidential candidate.