Democratic Party falls behind People Power Party in Realmeter poll

South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party has fallen behind the opposition People Power Party in national approval ratings for the first time since the June local elections, sliding to 36.2 percent against the opposition’s 40.9 percent in a Realmeter poll released on October 19.

Gyeonggi Province Budget Remarks Spark Public Outrage

The political damage began on October 13 during a parliamentary audit when Gyeonggi Provincial Governor Choo Mi-ae called firefighting “like a financial straw, causing the biggest headache” while detailing budgetary strains on local coffers. Firefighters’ unions immediately demanded an apology, pointing out that their lives remain constantly on the line.

The controversy intensified on October 16 when a fire at a metal printing factory in Gyeonggi claimed the life of firefighter Kim Jin-seok. When Choo attended the firefighter’s funeral, she offered an apology, stating, “Since you want an apology, I wholeheartedly apologize,” and her phrasing backfired.

Compounding the backlash, Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok arrived at the funeral in a vehicle that parked in a designated emergency patient spot.

Internal Party Clashes Deepen the Liberal Fractures

Beyond the funeral controversies, Governor Choo has engaged in a public feud with President Lee Jae-myung over personnel appointments. In September, Lee selected Kim Ji-yong, a former prosecutor, to head the newly established Serious Crime Investigation Agency, an institution created after the abolition of the traditional prosecutor’s office.

Choo publicly criticized the choice on October 2, asking why the president was “shivering before the insurrection forces.” Hard-line legislator Kim Yong-min joined Choo in denouncing the nominee for past ties to former President Yoon Suk-yeol. President Lee pushed back against the internal dissent, writing on social media on October 9 to condemn incompetent officials launching attacks under the guise of radical reform.

Meanwhile, friction with the Rebuilding Korea Party, led by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, has further splintered liberal support. After the Democratic Party ran its own candidate against Cho in a June parliamentary by-election, the conservative People Power Party won the seat, straining relations between the allied factions. The Rebuilding Korea Party reached a 9 percent support rating by October 22, according to figures from pollster Media Tomato.

Democratic Party Polls Poorly in Seoul

The ruling party’s fall is particularly sharp in Seoul, where the Democratic Party polls at 26.7 percent compared to the opposition’s 45.7 percent. Swing voters in the capital often signal broader national trends.

The Democratic Party faces a packed reform agenda under the Lee Jae-myung administration through the remainder of the year and into 2027, ahead of the 2028 general elections.