Moon Jae-in extends lead after Ban's return: poll

Hankook Ilbo survey shows wider gap between 2 candidates

By Kang Seung-woo

Moon Jae-in, a former chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), extended his lead over former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in the latest poll on potential presidential candidates Wednesday, amid growing public calls for a judgment on the Park Geun-hye administration.

The survey by Hankook Research at the request of the Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times, showed that Moon received support of 31.4 percent, up 11.7 percentage points from last month.

Ban, regarded as Moon's biggest rival in the race to Cheong Wa Dae, saw his support advance 5.9 percentage points to 20 percent, but failed to narrow the gap.

In a December survey, Moon had 19.7 percent to Ban's 14.1 percent.

Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung was third at 9.5 percent, while Ahn Cheol-soo, a former co-leader of the second-largest opposition People's Party, and South Chungcheong Governor An Hee-jung rounded out the top five with 4.8 percent and 3.9 percent, respectively.

The survey interviewed 1,000 respondents nationwide, aged 19 and over on Sunday and Monday and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

The research agency said that the overwhelming public anger at the Park government factored into Moon stretching his lead, with 82.4 percent of the respondents in favor of the catchphrase, "judgment of the current administration."

In addition, it added that the impeached President's continuous denials of her wrongdoings linked to her confidant Choi Soon-sil helped Moon cement pole position.

Moon, who lost narrowly to President Park in the 2012 presidential election, was an even stronger candidate in two- and three-way race scenarios.

Moon had 54.1 percent in a two-way duel, well beyond the margin of error to beat Ban, who garnered 33.2 percent; and he was also well ahead of Ban and Ahn in a trilateral race — 47 percent for Moon, 29.4 percent for Ban and 12.1 percent for Ahn.

Ban returned home last week with much fanfare after ending 10 years of service as the U.N. chief.

However, he has yet to live up to expectations amid a split in conservative voters. Recently, 29 lawmakers broke away from the ruling Saenuri Party to form the Barun Party following the Dec. 9 impeachment of President Park.

Before the corruption and influence-peddling scandal broke in late October, Ban was the runaway favorite among a field of presidential hopefuls, including Moon; and at that time, he was highly anticipated to run in the election under the banner of Park's Saenuri Party.

However, in the wake of the scandal that led to Park's impeachment, Ban's approval also nosedived — he once even yielded runner-up place to the rising Seongnam mayor.

According to the poll, 66.5 percent of Saenuri Party supporters and 40.3 percent of Barun Party backers were in favor of Ban.

However, only 38.3 percent of all respondents said Ban should run for president, with 55.2 percent disapproving.

"Ban's return has failed to bring about a convention effect so far, given that his approval is well behind that of Moon," the poll said.

"Unless Ban seeks ways to change the negative public sentiment toward him by the Lunar New Year holiday, it will not be easy for the former U.N. chief to catch up with Moon."

By party, the DPK stood as the most popular with 41.8 percent, followed by the People's Party with 10.8 percent and the Saenuri Party with 10.7 percent.

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