Ex-MPK chief most preferred as next president
By Yi Whan-woo
Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) former Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in and U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon are in a neck-and-neck race in the latest poll on potential presidential candidates.
The two are the top two picks for Korea's next leader.
Moon led Ban within a margin of error ― 42.8 percent to 42.3 percent ― in a two-way hypothetical race in a telephone survey conducted by Realmeter, Monday and Tuesday. The survey of 1,012 adults nationwide had a 3.1 percent margin of error.
By region, Moon, a presidential candidate in 2012, beat Ban in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
The former opposition leader earned 42.8 percent support to Ban's 35.4 percent in Seoul, and 47 percent to 42.5 percent in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province combined.
In the opposition stronghold of Gwangju and North and South Jeolla provinces ― Moon had a comfortable lead over the U.N. chief with 53.4 percent to 27.2 percent.
Ban is seen as a potential candidate for the ruling Saenuri Party although he has never shown any public interest in running for the presidency.
The U.N. chief received 57.2 percent support against Moon's 27.4 percent in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province combined, both of which are the ruling party's turf.
Ban, a native of North Chungcheong Province, led Moon 43.9 percent to 35.8 percent in North and South Chungcheong provinces combined.
By age groups, Moon enjoyed popularity among those in their 20s to 40s while those in older age groups favored Ban.
Moon led Ban 61 percent to 26.9 percent among the survey respondents in their 20s, 61.8 percent to 20.3 percent among those in their 30s, and 56.5 percent to 30.4 percent among those in their 40s.
Ban led Moon 53.4 percent to 30.4 percent among those in their 50s and 73 percent to 12 percent among those aged 60 or older.
Meanwhile, Ban beat minority opposition People's Party co-chair Ahn Cheol-soo 41 percent to 32.3 percent overall in a two-way mock race.
Ahn, who also ran in the 2012 race, left the MPK following a power struggle against Moon.
Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, attributed Moon's lead over Ban to the MPK's better-than-expected performance in the April 13 general election.
He cited that Ban had been the most favored potential candidate for the 2017 presidential election in a number of surveys before April 13.
"I'd say Moon is benefitting from the MPK's surprise victory although it remains uncertain how long his popularity will last," Shin said.
Despite a factional feud involving Moon, the MPK won 123 of 300 parliamentary seats up for grabs to become the largest party for the upcoming National Assembly term. The Saenuri Party secured 122 seats and the People's Party 38 seats.
Ban's second term as the U.N. chief will end this year.
By Yi Whan-woo
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| Rep. Moon Jae-in |
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| Ban Ki-moon |
The two are the top two picks for Korea's next leader.
Moon led Ban within a margin of error ― 42.8 percent to 42.3 percent ― in a two-way hypothetical race in a telephone survey conducted by Realmeter, Monday and Tuesday. The survey of 1,012 adults nationwide had a 3.1 percent margin of error.
By region, Moon, a presidential candidate in 2012, beat Ban in Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
The former opposition leader earned 42.8 percent support to Ban's 35.4 percent in Seoul, and 47 percent to 42.5 percent in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province combined.
In the opposition stronghold of Gwangju and North and South Jeolla provinces ― Moon had a comfortable lead over the U.N. chief with 53.4 percent to 27.2 percent.
Ban is seen as a potential candidate for the ruling Saenuri Party although he has never shown any public interest in running for the presidency.
The U.N. chief received 57.2 percent support against Moon's 27.4 percent in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province combined, both of which are the ruling party's turf.
Ban, a native of North Chungcheong Province, led Moon 43.9 percent to 35.8 percent in North and South Chungcheong provinces combined.
By age groups, Moon enjoyed popularity among those in their 20s to 40s while those in older age groups favored Ban.
Moon led Ban 61 percent to 26.9 percent among the survey respondents in their 20s, 61.8 percent to 20.3 percent among those in their 30s, and 56.5 percent to 30.4 percent among those in their 40s.
Ban led Moon 53.4 percent to 30.4 percent among those in their 50s and 73 percent to 12 percent among those aged 60 or older.
Meanwhile, Ban beat minority opposition People's Party co-chair Ahn Cheol-soo 41 percent to 32.3 percent overall in a two-way mock race.
Ahn, who also ran in the 2012 race, left the MPK following a power struggle against Moon.
Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, attributed Moon's lead over Ban to the MPK's better-than-expected performance in the April 13 general election.
He cited that Ban had been the most favored potential candidate for the 2017 presidential election in a number of surveys before April 13.
"I'd say Moon is benefitting from the MPK's surprise victory although it remains uncertain how long his popularity will last," Shin said.
Despite a factional feud involving Moon, the MPK won 123 of 300 parliamentary seats up for grabs to become the largest party for the upcoming National Assembly term. The Saenuri Party secured 122 seats and the People's Party 38 seats.
Ban's second term as the U.N. chief will end this year.
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