Yeongnam Region: Opposition-Ruling Party Support Gap Narrows to Margin of Error; Conservatives Seen Consolidating

In opinion polls in the Yeongnam region ahead of the local elections, the gap in support between candidates from the Democratic Party and the People Power Party has narrowed to within the margin of error.

An analysis suggests that the government and ruling party's push for a 'special counsel bill investigating alleged manipulation of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's investigations and indictments' has led to a consolidation of the conservative base. A People Power Party official told Chosun Ilbo, "Conservative voters who previously expressed strong dislike for the People Power Party due to issues like martial law declarations, impeachment, and internal party disputes seem to have found a reason to support us again, triggered by the Democratic Party's push for a special counsel to withdraw indictments." Early in the local election campaign, with the People Power Party's approval rating dropping to 15%, some within the Democratic Party had predicted a sweep across the Yeongnam region.

In a poll for the Daegu mayoral race, commissioned by JTBC and conducted by Metavoice/Research Lab among 804 Daegu voters on May 5-6, Democratic Party candidate Kim Bum-gyeom garnered 40% support, while People Power Party candidate Choo Kyung-ho received 41%. Choo Kyung-ho held a narrow lead within the margin of error.

For the Ulsan mayoral race, a poll by Yeongnam Research on 804 local voters on May 4-5 showed Democratic Party candidate Kim Sang-wook at 32.9% and People Power Party candidate Kim Duk-kyum at 37.1%.

In the Gyeongnam governor's race, a survey by Mono Research of 1,000 local voters on May 1-2 indicated Democratic Party candidate Kim Gyeong-su at 41.9% and People Power Party candidate Park Wan-soo at 44.1%.

For the Busan mayoral race, a poll by Hankil Research of 1,013 local voters on May 1-2 showed Democratic Party candidate Jeon Jae-soo at 46.9% and People Power Party candidate Park Hyung-joon at 40.7%.

Regarding the by-election for the Busan Buk-gu Gap parliamentary seat, a Metavoice poll of 501 voters in the district on May 4-5 showed 37% support for Democratic Party candidate Ha Jung-woo. People Power Party candidate Park Min-sik recorded 26%, and independent candidate Han Dong-hoon received 25%.