Over half of Koreans say first lady controversy will impact voting decision
Voters will also take corruption allegations involving DPK head into account at polls
Controversies surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol’s wife Kim Keon Hee followed him during his presidential election campaign in 2022. Two years later, the prevailing negative sentiment around the first lady is still casting a shadow over the ruling People Power Party (PPP) in the April 10 parliamentary elections, a poll showed Wednesday.
Over half, or 57 percent of eligible voters, said that the first lady issue will influence their decision on whom to vote for in the upcoming general elections, according to a public opinion poll conducted by Hankook Research at the request of The Korea Times. Another 39 percent said the issue will not affect their decision.
One key aspect contributing to the negative sentiment about Kim is her alleged involvement in manipulating the stock prices of Deutsch Motors, a BMW dealer in Korea, between 2009 and 2012. In addition, recent revelations that she allegedly received a Dior handbag worth 3 million won ($2,240) from a Korean American pastor in 2022 have added fuel to the public’s skepticism.
In the poll, 63 percent of the respondents expressed discontent about the National Assembly’s recent rejection of two special investigation bills, one of which called for a special counsel to look into the allegations against the first lady with regard to the aforementioned stock manipulation.
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea’s (DPK) attempt to pass the special bills at a plenary session on Feb. 29 was derailed amid fierce opposition from PPP lawmakers. The bill had been sent back to the Assembly for a re-vote following a presidential veto in January.
The DPK said Tuesday that it will reintroduce the special probe bill targeting the first lady, this time including the Dior handbag allegations and other allegations including that she was accompanied by a personal companion on a presidential state visit to Spain.
The opposition party’s move may resonate with liberal voters, as the poll indicated that 83 percent of respondents who identified as progressives, and 73 percent as politically neutral, expressed disapproval for the failed passage of the special bills.
Other than the controversies regarding the first lady, 55 percent of the respondents viewed that legal woes surrounding DPK leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung and his wife Kim Hye-kyung would influence their voting decisions, while 41 percent viewed that they wouldn’t.
The DPK leader is currently embroiled in a lawsuit over his alleged involvement in a high-profile land development scandal in Seongnam City’s Daejang-dong during his tenure as the city mayor.
Simultaneously, his wife is facing allegations that she misused an official government credit card when her husband was governor of Gyeonggi Province.
The poll also showed that voters are keeping a close watch on the rival parties’ candidate nomination processes, with 66 percent indicating it as a factor affecting their voting decision.
Meanwhile, the poll found that high prices and the sluggish economy were the primary concerns among voters that would influence the elections. Nearly half, or 46 percent of the respondents, replied that economy-related issues, such as high prices and household debt, were prominent items on the election agenda.
Other than the economy, 29 percent said their evaluations of the leadership of Yoon, DPK leader Lee and PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon will affect their decisions.
Another 10 percent cited the ongoing high-stakes dispute between the government and doctors regarding a plan to increase the medical school admissions quota as a key election issue. Two weeks ago, thousands of junior doctors nationwide initiated a mass resignation movement and they now face possible suspension of their medical licenses due to the government’s hardline response.
The poll was conducted on 1,002 adults on Monday and Tuesday. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, with a credibility rate of 95 percent. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission’s website.