About three-fourths of South Koreans had positive expectations for President Moon Jae-in‘s state management, a survey showed Monday.

According to local pollster Realmeter, 74.8 percent of respondents answered they expect Moon will do well as president, while 16 percent gave negative views. The remaining 9.2 percent were unsure.

The telephone survey was conducted on 1,516 voters nationwide from Wednesday to Friday. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points and a confidence level of 95 percent.

Economic recovery and eradication of corruption topped the list of the most urgent tasks the new president should tackle, with 30.8 percent and 30.4 percent of respondents saying so. Security issues (14.7 percent) and national unity (12 percent) followed, the survey showed.

Respondents also said justice and communication are the most important national values Moon should seek for, with 33.1 percent and 16.9 percent, respectively.

President Moon was sworn in Wednesday without the typical two-month transition period, elected through a rare presidential by-election. He will serve five years.

The new ruling Democratic Party of Korea saw a rise in public support after the election victory. With 44.7 percent, up 3 percentage points from a week ago, the liberal party topped all parties in support ratings.

The conservative opposition Liberty Korea Party fell 4.5 percent points to 13 percent, ending its uptrend of three weeks. The progressive Justice Party ranked third at 9.6 percent, followed by the centrist People’s Party at 8.8 percent and the conservative Bareun Party at 8.3 percent.

By Byun Hee-jin (hjbandi9@heraldcorp.com)