The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea recorded an approval rating of 44.3 percent in a recent poll released Monday, with the difference to the ruling People Power Party's approval rating of 39 percent being beyond the margin of error.
Compared to the same poll in the previous week, the main liberal party's rating rose 3.3 percentage points while the main conservative party's approval rating dropped 3.7 percentage points, according to the nationwide survey of 1,510 people aged 18 and up March 12-14 conducted by local pollster Realmeter.
The previous week's survey showed that the People Power Party's approval rating had rebounded to 42.7 percent, with the Democratic Party just behind at 41 percent approval.
The weekly survey's margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points, and its confidence level is 95 percent. The confidence level refers to the expected frequency of the same outcome in the general population.
When asked if the ruling party should stay in power in the next presidential election, 55.5 percent said the presidency should go to the opposition, while 40 percent answered in favor of the ruling party. The remaining 4.5 percent said they are unsure.
Compared to the previous week's poll, people who thought the main opposition party should win the next presidential election increased by 5.1 percentage points, while those who thought the ruling party should stay in power dropped by 4 percent.
The ruling and main opposition parties have been at loggerheads over the ongoing impeachment and criminal trials of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is accused of leading an insurrection and abuse of power over his actions related to his Dec. 3 martial law declaration. The Constitutional Court is currently in the final stages of its deliberations over the ruling, having concluded the hearings, and is expected to reach a verdict any day now.
If Yoon's impeachment is confirmed, South Korea will hold an early presidential election within 60 days of the ruling.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
