DP’s Lee Jae-myung widens lead among presidential hopefuls: poll

Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the liberal Democratic Party, has a strong lead among potential candidates for the June 3 presidential election, a survey showed Friday.

In the poll conducted by Gallup Korea on 1,005 adults between Tuesday and Thursday, Lee garnered 37 percent support, marking his highest rating this year.

Former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, who joined the conservative People Power Party (PPP) and declared his bid Wednesday, came next with 9 percent.

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo received 5 percent, and former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon garnered 4 percent.

Acting President Han Duck-soo made his first appearance in the poll with 2 percent, matching the figures for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and PPP lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo.

Three out of 10 respondents did not show support for a particular candidate.

Economic recovery was cited as the top priority for the next president at 48 percent, followed by national unity and conflict resolution at 13 percent.

It is Gallup’s first survey since former President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted from office last Friday over his brief imposition of martial law in December.

It has a margin of error of plus and minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.