{"id":2202680,"date":"2023-11-08T14:23:53","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T05:23:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2202680"},"modified":"2023-11-10T18:48:55","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T09:48:55","slug":"election-pressures-mount-for-yoon-suk-yeol-as-approval-among-supporters-slips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/11\/election-pressures-mount-for-yoon-suk-yeol-as-approval-among-supporters-slips\/","title":{"rendered":"Election pressures mount for Yoon Suk-yeol as approval among supporters slips"},"content":{"rendered":"

As next year\u2019s April National Assembly elections draw closer, South Korea\u2019s major parties are gearing up for a bitter contest, with the Yoon administration battling to avoid another defeat.<\/span><\/p>\n

The country remains deeply divided along political, gender and age lines, and the upcoming election will bring these fissures to the fore. For President Yoon Suk-yeol, this election could be a defining piece of his legacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While his approach to foreign policy has <\/span>won him plaudits<\/span><\/a> from abroad, the fact that his party, the People Power Party (PPP), is a significant minority in the National Assembly has severely hamstrung his ability to pursue a domestic legislative agenda.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Should the PPP win a majority of seats, Yoon is likely to quickly unfurl that agenda with reforms to social welfare, education and the national pension system. Should his party lose, he will become a lame duck with three years left in his term.<\/span><\/p>\n

And with just six months to go, Yoon and the PPP are running out of time to reverse low approval rates for the president and his policies, as economic difficulties and the real estate market weigh heavily on voters\u2019 minds.<\/span><\/p>\n

THE PRESSURE<\/b><\/p>\n

The conservative PPP is clearly feeling the pressure ahead of the elections.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In what both parties considered a preview of the upcoming voting for seats in the National Assembly, the Democratic Party (DP) <\/span>roundly defeated<\/span><\/a> the PPP in a by-election in Seoul\u2019s Gangseo District last month. The DP candidate garnered 57% of the vote compared to just 39% for the PPP candidate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The results appear to have sounded alarm bells for the PPP, which has <\/span>rehabilitated<\/span><\/a>\u00a0its former leader Lee Jun-seok and Daegu mayor Hong Jun-pyo, lifting the suspensions of their party memberships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The former is a relative newcomer who was expelled for ethics violations that involved allegations of bribery and prostitution. He was once viewed as key in bringing young men into the party ahead of the last presidential election.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Hong was suspended amid backlash for playing golf when the country was struggling with damage from heavy downpours.<\/span><\/p>\n

The party has also <\/span>revived<\/span><\/a> a moribund proposal to expand Seoul to include some neighboring areas, including Gimpo.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

People Power Party (PPP) leader Kim Gi-hyeon campaigning for then-PPP candidate Kim Tae-woo for the by-election in Seoul\u2019s Gangseo-gu district on Oct. 9, 2023. The Democratic Party’s candidate won 57% of the vote days later. | Image: People Power Party<\/p><\/div>\n

RED FLAGS<\/b><\/p>\n

A deeper look at the polling suggests why the PPP should be concerned.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In Gallup Korea polling <\/span>released on Nov. 3<\/span><\/a>, pluralities or outright majorities disapprove of the current government\u2019s handling of the seven major issues included in the survey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Those issues relate to policies on the economy (61% disapprove), North Korea (49%), real estate (52%), foreign policy (46%), welfare (50%), personnel (61%) and education (50%).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While some discontent may be normal toward whichever party is currently in power, the greater concern for the PPP should be negative attitudes on the economy and real estate, which are two bedrock election issues.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even supporters of the PPP approve of the handling of these two issues at far lower levels of support than they show for the party itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to the economy, a little over 60% disapprove of the current government\u2019s policy. That ties an all-time high since the question was first asked during the Yoon administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even among the PPP\u2019s core constituents, there is stronger-than-expected disapproval given their staunch support of the PPP.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, those in their 60s and 70s or older are the core constituents of the party, with 53% and 61% saying they support the PPP, respectively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But on economic policy, just 39% of those in their 60s approve \u2014 versus 50% who disapprove \u2014 while 45% of those in their 70s approve, compared to 30% who disapprove.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There is also a majority disapproval among respondents (52%) of the government\u2019s real estate policy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once again, disapproval among core PPP supporters is relatively strong given their strong support for the party and the president.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Among those in their 60s, 40% approve of the real estate policy while 39% disapprove. Among those 70 or older, the numbers are 42% and 27%. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Leader of the opposition Democratic Party Lee Jae-myung answers questions during a press conference at the party’s headquarters on Nov. 2, 2023. | Image: Democratic Party<\/p><\/div>\n

DIFFERENCE FROM 2020<\/b><\/p>\n

It is important to point out that these indicators were as bad \u2014 and in some cases worse \u2014 throughout the Moon Jae-in administration. Yet his DP <\/span>won by a landslide<\/span><\/a> in the 2020 National Assembly elections.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, there are two key differences to consider.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, the PPP was still reeling from the successful <\/span>impeachment<\/span><\/a> and removal from office of Park Geun-hye.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the eve of the election, support for the DP was 41% while the conservative party \u2014 then called the United Future Party \u2014 was at 23%.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, President Moon was an exceptionally popular leader \u2014 just before the election his <\/span>approval rating<\/span><\/a> was in the mid-50s.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, President Yoon\u2019s first 18 months in office have been tumultuous, and his approval rating has generally fluctuated in a narrow band of 30% and 35%. The <\/span>most recent<\/span><\/a> polling from Gallup Korea puts it at 34%.<\/span><\/p>\n

While Yoon\u2019s job approval is not exceptionally low among Korean presidents from a historical standpoint, it is clear that his presidency will not carry the party through an election season.<\/span><\/p>\n

While six months remain until the election \u2014 and Korean politics can shift very quickly \u2014 the PPP is already beginning to pull out the stops to avoid a serious setback.<\/span><\/p>\n

If it fails to move the public, the PPP may be looking at a second consecutive defeat and another four years as a minority in the National Assembly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Edited by Alannah Hill<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Culture & Society<\/span><\/a>Domestic Politics<\/span><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As next year\u2019s April National Assembly elections draw closer, South Korea\u2019s major parties are gearing up for a bitter contest, with the Yoon administration battling to avoid another defeat. The country remains deeply divided along political, gender and age lines, and the upcoming election will bring these fissures to the fore. For President Yoon Suk-yeol, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10909,"featured_media":2202686,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[25,27],"yoast_head":"\nElection pressures mount for Yoon Suk-yeol as approval among supporters slips - KOREA PRO<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/11\/election-pressures-mount-for-yoon-suk-yeol-as-approval-among-supporters-slips\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Election pressures mount for Yoon Suk-yeol as approval among supporters slips - KOREA PRO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As next year\u2019s April National Assembly elections draw closer, South Korea\u2019s major parties are gearing up for a bitter contest, with the Yoon administration battling to avoid another defeat. 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