One month after presidential bid, Yoon sees sharp decline of support
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl listens to reporters' questions after attending the funeral service of the Venerable Wolju, former president of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, Monday. Yonhap
Yoon likely to join conservative main opposition party in August to regain support base
By Nam Hyun-woo
Nearly one month has passed since former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl declared his bid to run in the presidential election next year, but his support rate has experienced a sharp decline, as his coarse rhetoric and inexperienced political moves appear to be letting down conservative voters' expectations.
According to a poll released by the Korea Society Opinion Institute, Monday, Yoon's support rate stood at 26.9 percent to lead the pack. Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung from the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) was close behind, with 26 percent. The poll surveyed 1,006 adults in Korea from Friday to Saturday.
Compared to previous surveys conducted by the institute, Yoon's support rate has declined by 3.4 percentage points from a week earlier and by 11.1 percentage points from five weeks earlier ― a week before Yoon announced his presidential bid on June 29 and began making moves as a politician. Meanwhile, over the five weeks since his announcement, Lee's support rate increased by 1 percentage point.
The numbers showed that Yoon, an independent presidential contender who is expected to run in the election as a conservative candidate, is bleeding support after making political missteps, which pundits say created controversy and stemmed from Yoon's inexperienced-sounding rhetoric.
Recently, Yoon became mired in a controversy due to his interview with Maeil Business Newspaper on July 19, after saying that “Young entrepreneurs are raising their voices that Korea's statutory 52-hour workweek scheme should allow exemptions so that employees can choose how they work,” and “Workers should be allowed to work 120 hours a week and take a good rest.”
Working 120 hours is equivalent to working around the clock for five days. The current work system was adopted to reduce overwork and guarantee some degree of work-life balance, and flexibility ― such as working 62 hours this week and then work 42 hours the following week ― is allowed only in very limited situations.
The comment drew an immediate backlash from the liberal bloc. Rep. Kim Young-bae of the DPK said that “the Nazi Auschwitz concentration camp was known to force 98 hours of work on inmates” and that he “cannot help but be shocked by Yoon's distorted understanding of labor.”
Rep. Sim Sang-jung of the progressive minor opposition Justice Party also blasted Yoon, saying, “Internet users are commenting that Yoon himself should demonstrate a 120-hour workweek himself,” adding that “Working 24 hours a day, five days a week, will kill people.”
Yoon later claimed, “People who are on the opposite political side are distorting my comment.”
Before his 120-hour workweek comment, Yoon suffered criticisms for a comment he made criticizing the government's plan to provide COVID-19 relief money to the people. In an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo newspaper on July 15, he said, “Taxes are the costs for economic activity and increased costs weaken economic activities,” and “If the country is going to collect taxes and then give them away, it would be better not to collect them in the first place.”
This comment also drew fierce criticism. “A person who seeks to become the chief executive of the country has no understanding of the country's basic duties,” Gyeonggi Governor Lee said. “Yoon's idea is similar to asking, 'Do you really need to eat? You will just go to the bathroom anyway.'”
On June 6, Yoon created a stir regarding Japan's decision to dump radioactive contaminated water from the disabled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the sea. With the Korean government striving to dissuade Tokyo from going through with its decision, Yoon said, “It was not a big issue in the past,” raising questions whether he is actually taking the Japanese government's side.
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, left, and People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok make a toast during their meeting at a fried chicken restaurant in Gwangjin District, Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap
Pundits are also saying that Yoon's indecisiveness about whether he will join the conservative main opposition People Power Party (PPP) is dampening his momentum as a leading contender.
Yoon met PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok on Sunday to exchanged opinions on the upcoming election and on joining the party.
After the meeting, Yoon said, “I believe the time is coming to decide which direction I should choose,” adding, “I asked Lee to give me time to make my decision, and he also agreed.”
The meeting came after Lee's continuous warning that the PPP would start its primary without Yoon if Yoon fails to join the PPP in time.
“The opposition bloc needs to be unified,” Yoon said in an interview with the Munhwa Ilbo newspaper on Monday. “I won't be dragging things out so long, and will make a decision after hearing the public's voice. I will determine my direction and political stance no later than August.”