Ex-prosecutor general’s support rate shoots up to lead presidential polls

Mar 09, 2021, 08:13 am

AsiaToday reporter Jo Jae-hak

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, who has been struggling with the Moon Jae-in administration, has emerged as a key figure in the next presidential election. Yoon has seen his public support surge in a poll on prospective presidential candidates following his resignation, beating potential presidential candidates in both ruling and opposition blocs. As anti-Moon voters have shown support for Yoon, keen attention is now on the political maneuvering in the opposition bloc.

The Korea Society Opinion Institute (KSOI) said on Monday that Yoon topped the survey with nearly 30 percent of support rate. A similar survey by Realmeter also showed that Yoon is the front runner.

The result of the polls show that Yoon’s resignation has been recognized by the public as a declaration to enter politics, leading to full support from anti-Moon voters, experts say. “It seems Yoon has won support from those who are disappointed at the Moon Jae-in administration and those who are against the government’s pressure on prosecution,” Insight K director Bae Jong-chan told AsiaToday in a phone interview. “The fact that Yoon’s support rate surpassed 30 percent indicates that he secured support not only from conservatives and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) but also centrist voters,” Bae said. “The result of the polls show that those disappointed at the Moon administration have shown their support for Yoon while it remains uncertain who will be a main presidential candidate in the conservative bloc.”

Yoon said earlier that depriving the prosecution of its investigative rights completely would bring about the “prevalence of corruption,” opening the possibility of entering politics. The latest polls are the result of the convention effect and the underdog effect caused by Yoon’s resignation, experts say. However, they say Yoon has become the center of power structure in the opposition bloc with his high support rate as a presidential candidate. “It seems former prosecutor general Yoon has grabbed the ‘star moment’,” Kim Chong-in, the interim leader of the PPP, told reporters.

Experts say the political reform in the opposition bloc will be made after the April 7 Seoul and Busan mayoral by-elections. The results of the by-elections could have impact on it, but Yoon is likely to be the center of power structure because there is no strong presidential runner in the opposition bloc. This is why many believe Yoon’s political entrance would be after the by-elections. “When the by-elections are over, the opposition bloc is highly likely to be restructured,” said Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University. “In this case, Yoon could expand his political presence.”

Experts say Yoon’s recent criticism on employees of the state-run housing developer Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH) using internal information on housing supply projects for their speculative property investments is aimed at expanding his political presence. “Using inside information for real estate speculation is a serious crime,” Yoon said in a recent media interview, calling for an investigation by the prosecution. “If the opposition wins in the by-elections, Yoon can be evaluated as contributing to the victory by raising the real estate issue and attracting centrist voters,” Bae said. “He can become a key figure of the political reform in the opposition.”

There are three choices for Yoon’s political presence – joining the PPP, the People’s Party, or forming a third power. Experts say it is more advantageous for Yoon to expand his political presence by forming anti-Moon power instead of joining existing political parties. “In terms of support rate, Yoon can get up to 30 percent if he joins the PPP, and 10 percent for the People’s Party,” Bae said. “He can win up to nearly 50 percent if he forms a new force supported by anti-Moon voters. He is likely to choose an option to expand his presence regardless of the result of the by-elections.”

#Yoon Seok-youl #presidential poll #People Power Party #Peoples Party #anti-Moon voters