55% of people oppose re-impeachment of PM Han Duck-soo

Mar 31, 2025, 09:36 am

AsiaToday reporter Lee Han-sol

A recent survey revealed that 55% of people oppose the re-impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, while 39% support the move, and 7% remain undecided. The survey was conducted by AsiaToday in collaboration with the Korea Opinion Reputation Research Institute (KOPRA) on March 28–29, targeting 1,002 men and women aged 18 and older nationwide.

The survey asked respondents about their views on the main opposition Democratic Party’s (DP) efforts to pursue another impeachment of Acting President Han Duck-soo, who recently returned to office following the Constitutional Court’s dismissal of the impeachment motion on March 24. A majority of 55% opposed this move, while 39% were in favor.

Regionally, opposition to re-impeachment was evident across most areas. Only in Gwangju and Jeolla provinces did support for re-impeachment slightly exceed opposition, with 47% supporting the motion and 46% opposing it. In other regions, opposition to re-impeachment was significantly higher than support. In Seoul, 54% opposed the motion while 38% supported it, and in Incheon and Gyeonggi, 52% were against it compared to 42% in favor. Similarly, in Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheong, 53% opposed re-impeachment while 38% supported it. The trend continued in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, where opposition reached 71% against 26% support, and in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, where 60% opposed and 35% supported the motion. In Gangwon and Jeju, opinions were more evenly split, with 44% opposing and 42% supporting re-impeachment.

The survey also revealed that opposition was particularly strong among younger respondents. Among those aged 18–29, 60% opposed re-impeachment while 31% supported it. Similarly, 56% of respondents in their 30s opposed the motion compared to 40% who supported it. Among those in their 60s, 65% were against re-impeachment while 30% supported it, and among those aged 70 and older, 62% opposed it compared to 28% in favor. In contrast, respondents in their 40s expressed comparatively more support for re-impeachment, with 54% in favor and 41% opposed. These findings suggest a growing public fatigue with repeated impeachments and the resulting political gridlock.

Political affiliation and presidential approval ratings revealed stark divides. Among those who support the president, 94% opposed re-impeachment, while only 4% supported it. Among those who disapprove of the president, 8% favored re-impeachment, while 23% opposed it. Respondents who were unsure about their presidential approval showed mixed views, with 51% opposing and 49% remaining undecided.

Party affiliation further highlighted the divide. DP supporters showed 78% in favor of re-impeachment, while People Power Party supporters were overwhelmingly against it, with 93% opposing and only 5% in favor. Opinions among supporters of other parties and independents varied significantly.

The survey results indicate a growing sentiment among South Koreans weary of ongoing political conflicts and impeachments that have led to governance disruptions and increased instability.

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