Gap between Ruling and Opposition Party Support Narrows to Smallest Margin of 5 Percentage Points

The gap in support between the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party has narrowed to 5 percentage points, within the margin of error. This is the smallest gap recorded by Korea Gallup since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung government. According to a telephone survey of 1,000 adults nationwide conducted by Korea Gallup from October 27 to 29, the Democratic Party recorded 35% support and the People Power Party 30%. The Rebuilding Korea Party followed with 3% and the Reform Party with 2%, while 28% of respondents were independents who did not support any particular party. The survey had a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Support for the Democratic Party matched its lowest level from the second week of October, while support for the People Power Party matched its highest level from the first week of September.

Public opinion was divided over the appellate court's acquittal on October 23 of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in the 'Myeong Tae-gyun opinion polling front-running' case. More respondents called it a 'wrong verdict' (37%) than a 'right verdict' (34%), while 29% withheld judgment. Perceptions diverged sharply along ideological lines: 61% of conservatives viewed it as a right verdict, while 76% of progressives saw it as a wrong verdict. Among moderates, opinion was nearly even, with 36% calling it a wrong verdict and 34% a right verdict.

The narrowing of the gap between ruling and opposition party support to within the margin of error reflects declining support for the ruling camp and rising support for the opposition, a shift that could affect the management of state affairs and the balance of power between the two sides going forward. Detailed results of this survey can be found on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.