The approval rating of the People’s Power party has been decreasing since the party convention. Previously, the gap with the Democratic Party of Korea was double digits, but recent investigations show little difference between the two parties. This decline in approval has sparked concern, especially with the accompanying drop in President Yoon Seok-yeol’s approval rating. According to a survey by Gallup Korea, the People’s Power support rate fell by 4 percentage points to 34%, while the Democratic Party rose by 1 percentage point to 33%. Meanwhile, President Yoon’s positive job evaluation dropped 1 percentage point to 33%. Another survey by Embrain Public, K-Stat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research showed a simultaneous decline in the approval of the People’s Power party by 5 percentage points, while the Democratic Party rose 3 percentage points. The main reasons for this decline appear to be negative public opinion regarding compensation for forced labor during Japanese colonial rule and the proposed 69-hour work week. To address these concerns, Representative Kim Ki-hyun plans to form a special committee on people’s livelihood and visit the Common People’s Financial Integration Support Center. The focus will be on solving issues related to people’s livelihood.
與 Gallup Poll 4%P drop in a week
尹 33% positive evaluation of job performance↓
Forced mobilization and working hour reform Negative
“Increased publicity… Focus on solving problems of people’s livelihood”
The people’s strength approval rating has been on the decline since the party convention. Even before the war, the gap with the Democratic Party of Korea was up to double digits, but now the results of investigations show that there is not much difference between the Democratic Party and the Democratic Party. The people’s strength was explained as a natural phenomenon following the end of the ‘convention effect’, but a sense of crisis is spreading as President Yoon Seok-yeol’s approval rating and accompanying decline.
As a result of a survey conducted by Gallup Korea on the 14th and 16th of 1003 men and women over the age of 18 (sampling error is ±3.1% at the 95% confidence level, refer to the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Committee), the people’s support rate is 34%, Democrats 33%. The power of the people fell by 4 percentage points from the previous survey, and the Democratic Party rose by 1 percentage point. The people’s strength approval rating was 39% in the first week of March alone, 10 percentage points higher than the Democratic Party (29%), but the gap has virtually disappeared. The positive evaluation of President Yoon’s job performance also fell by 1 percentage point to 33%.
In addition, the results of a survey of 1,005 men and women aged 18 or older nationwide on the 13th and 15th by Embrain Public, K-Stat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research (sample error ±3.1% points at the 95% confidence level) The power approval rating fell 5 percentage points to 34%, and the Democratic Party rose 3 percentage points to 30%.
The main reason for the simultaneous decline in the approval ratings of President Yoon and the people’s power seems to be the issue of compensation for forced labor under Japanese colonial rule and the reorganization of working hours, which focused on third-party reimbursement. As a result of a Gallup Korea survey on the government’s working hour reform plan, which includes the maximum work week of 69 hours, 36% of the respondents agreed and 56% opposed it. In the national index survey, 33% supported and 60% opposed to the compensation plan for the victims of forced labor. An official from People’s Power said, “It is partly because the national interest has declined following the war, but the main cause is negative public opinion regarding diplomatic issues and the 69-hour work week.”
As soon as he took office, Representative Kim Ki-hyun, who received a disappointing report card, plans to drive to solve the problem of people’s livelihood. On the 20th, he plans to form a special committee on people’s livelihood at the Supreme Council, and on the 21st he will visit the Common People’s Financial Integration Support Center. Representative Kim’s official said, “From tomorrow (the 20th), we will focus only on the livelihood of the people.”
Reporter Lee Min-young
In summary, the approval ratings of both President Yoon Seok-yeol and the People’s Power party have declined in recent weeks, with the Democratic Party of Korea closing the gap between them. Issues surrounding forced labor compensation and working hour reform have contributed to this negative trend. However, Representative Kim Ki-hyun aims to shift the party’s focus towards resolving the problems of people’s livelihood. It remains to be seen how effective this approach will be in regaining public favor.
