Lee Jae-myung’s support rating rises above 50% for first time
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's leading presidential contender, greets supporters after voting results are announced at the Ulsan Exhibition Convention Center in Ulju County, Ulsan, Sunday. The event was part of the Yeongnam Joint Speech for selecting the candidate for the 21st presidential election. Yonhap
Presidential contender Rep. Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has surpassed the 50 percent mark in public support, widening his lead over a fractured conservative bloc, a poll showed Monday.
In a Realmeter survey conducted from Wednesday to Friday, which polled 1,504 people nationwide, Lee received 50.2 percent support, marking a 1.4 percentage point increase from the previous week.
Trailing far behind were Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (PPP), who received 12.2 percent support, former Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon with 8.5 percent and former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo at 7.5 percent. All three are actively campaigning in the PPP primary, but none has emerged as a clear challenger capable of consolidating conservative support.
Although acting President Han Duck-soo was excluded from this week’s Realmeter poll due to party primary rules, his potential entry into the race continues to generate speculation across political circles. In a separate KSOI poll commissioned by CBS and conducted during the same period as Realmeter’s, Han ranked second with 10.6 percent support. This placed him ahead of all current PPP contenders and made him the only conservative figure to reach double digits.
Han has not announced a presidential bid and remains largely behind the scenes. Within the PPP, however, there is growing talk of positioning him as a centrist figure who could bridge internal divides. Having served under both progressive and conservative administrations, he is regarded by some as a steady, experienced hand in times of economic and diplomatic uncertainty.
Han Duck-soo, acting president and prime minister, walks toward the microphone to deliver a commemorative speech during the 2025 Science and ICT Day ceremony at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Center in Gangnam District, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
Still, questions persist about whether Han's potential candidacy is being driven by public support or by internal maneuvering within the PPP.
Political analyst Yoon Tae-gon said that unlike Goh Kun, a former prime minister and leader of the Democratic Party, or former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is widely respected internationally, Han's rise appears to be “an artificial boost orchestrated by certain factions within the PPP.” He added, “What’s worse is that Han still carries the negative shadow of the recently impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.”
Goh ran for president in 2007 but withdrew, while Ban considered a run in 2017 before announcing his decision not to campaign.
Some observers see the push to draft Han as less about securing the presidency and more about positioning for control of the party after the election.
Jang Sung-chul, a former strategist for the Saenuri Party, the PPP’s predecessor, said “Those aligned with Yoon may believe that while Hong Joon-pyo or Han Dong-hoon could consolidate control of the party if elected, Han Duck-soo would likely retire if defeated — leaving a leadership vacuum they hope to fill.”
As Lee continues to consolidate support and the PPP struggles to unite behind a single contender, Han’s next move could be decisive. Whether he enters the race or stays on the sidelines, his decision may determine if the June 3 presidential election becomes a true two-horse race or is essentially Lee’s to win.
The Realmeter poll was commissioned by Energy Economic News and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.