The main opposition Democratic United Party’s likely candidates for the April 11 general elections are ahead of those of the ruling Saenuri Party in key districts in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province, an opinion poll showed Monday.

The poll sounded alarm bells for the ruling party as it indicates that its voter support in its traditional southeastern stronghold has been eroded amid a series of corruption scandals involving key figures of the ruling bloc.

The poll of some 500 people in 10 constituencies across the nation was conducted by JoongAng Ilbo and local pollster Embrain last week. Its margin of error is 4.4 percentage points.

In the Sasang district of Busan, Moon Jae-in, a senior advisor to the DUP, was in first place with 42.3 percent support. His rival Kwon Cheol-hyeon of the Saenuri Party was second with 34.7 percent support.

Moon, who was chief of staff for President Roh Moo-hyun, has recently risen as one of the strongest presidential contenders for the liberal opposition.

In the Gangseo-eul district of the southeastern port city, DUP Supreme Council member Moon Sung-keun came first with 41.9 percent ― 9.4 percentage points ahead of Saenuri Party Rep. Huh Tae-yeol.

In the Gimhae-eul district in South Gyeongsang Province, Kim Gyeong-su, a DUP member and key associate of the late Roh, got 40.9 percent ― 6.9 percentage points ahead of Saenuri Party Rep. Kim Tae-ho.

The DUP standard bearers were leading in some districts in Seoul as well.

The poll showed that in the Jongno district, DUP Rep. Chung Sye-kyun got 30.6 percent support ― 9.3 percentage points over his rival Rep. Cho Yoon-sun of the Saenuri Party.

In the Dobong-gap district, In Jae-geun, widow of the DUP’s senior advisor Kim Geun-tae, was in first place with 30.3 percent support while Rep. Shin Ji-ho of the ruling party received 19.5 percent support.

In the Dongjak-eul constituency, Lee Gye-an, former lawmaker of the Democratic Party, the DUP’s predecessor, garnered 36.4 percent support, 0.2 percentage point ahead of Saenuri Party Rep. Chung Mong-joon.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)