elect Lees Rating Stays at 55%, but Chungs Popularity Rising

By Yoon Won-sup

Staff Reporter

The approval rate of Chung Dong-young, presidential candidate of the United New Democratic Party (UNDP), surged to 16 percent, making him the second most popular contender after Lee Myung-bak of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) with 55.5 percent.

A survey, conducted by the Chosun Ilbo newspaper Tuesday, showed that Lee saw his popularity increased by 1.4 percent over three weeks while Chung's rate jumped 9.2 percent. Chung saw a popularity surge after his nomination as the party's standard-bearer on Monday.

Polls by CBS and the Munhwa Ilbo showed Chung's rating surging to 20.2 percent and 15.4 percent respectively.