More than half of the public finds it difficult to recognize the People Power Party as the ruling party, according to a recent poll.
On the 19th, a survey conducted by pollster Realmeter on behalf of Energy Economy showed that among 503 voters aged 18 and above across the country, 52.6% responded that they cannot recognize the People Power Party as the ruling party during President Yoon Suk-yeol’s suspension of duties. This percentage is 11% higher than the 41.6% who said the party remains the ruling party until the Constitutional Court’s decision. 5.8% answered that they were unsure.
Regionally, in Gwangju and Jeolla, 67.4% refused to recognize the People Power Party as the ruling party, higher than those who did recognize it. In Incheon, Gyeonggi, and Seoul, the rates were also high at 60.9% and 54.8%, respectively.
Conversely, in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, 53.1% recognized the party as the ruling party, higher than those who didn’t. In Daegu and Gyeongbuk, recognition was at 54.0%.
By age, the refusal to recognize the party as the ruling party was higher among those in their 40s and 50s, at 68.2% and 63.5%, respectively. Among those aged 70 and older, 49.4% recognized the party as the ruling party, showing a generational divide. Other age groups showed similar response rates within the margin of error.
Regarding political ideology, among those who identified as progressive, 78.6% did not recognize the party as the ruling party. Among conservatives, 67.5% recognized it as the ruling party.
Regarding the Democratic Party’s ability to substitute as the ruling party, 59.4% believed it could (44.0% very well, 15.5% somewhat). 39.1% believed it could not (30.1% not at all, 9.0% not much).
In Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, 53.1% believed it could not substitute as the ruling party, higher than those who believed it can. However, in most other regions, the belief that the Democratic Party could substitute was higher, including 73.2% in Gwangju and Jeolla, and 67.8% in Daejeon, Chungcheong, and Sejong.
Across all age groups, a majority believed the Democratic Party could substitute, especially those in their 40s at 76.2%.
Among ideological beliefs, 88.1% of progressives and 55.8% of moderates believed substitution was possible. In contrast, 68.0% of conservatives believed it wasn’t possible.
When those who believe the Democratic Party can substitute were asked why (299 respondents, ±5.7%P), the most common reason given (40.1%) was due to the People Power Party leadership’s inability to perform regular duties. Other reasons included being the largest party in Parliament (29.9%) and having experience in governance (28.3%).
For those who believed it couldn’t substitute (197 respondents, ±7.0%P), 63.7% cited Lee Jae-myung’s legal risks as a reason. Other reasons included a lack of capability to act as a responsible ruling party (21.1%) and because the president belongs to the People Power Party (11.9%).
Previously, during the impeachment proceedings, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party remarked that the political situation was now neutral. In response, Kwon Seong-dong of the People Power Party insisted, “The People Power Party remains the ruling party as the president belongs to it.”
The survey had a margin of error of ±4.4% at a 95% confidence level, with a response rate of 5.7%. It was conducted using an automatic response method with 97% mobile and 3% landline random digit dialing. More details can be found on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.