'Three-Way Race for Governor Election'... Candidate Kang Yong-seok's 'Debate Attendance' Possibility Based on Polls

Average Approval Rating Exceeds 5% in Public Opinion Polls Released One Month Before Election Campaign Period

(Photo from left) Kim Dong-yeon, Democratic Party candidate; Kim Eun-hye, People Power Party candidate; Kang Yong-seok, Independent candidate [Candidate Election Camp]

[Asia Economy Reporter Youngcheol Ra] Recent polling results for the June 1 local election Gyeonggi Province governor candidates show support rates in the order of Kim Dong-yeon of the Democratic Party of Korea, Kim Eun-hye of the People Power Party, and independent candidate Kang Yong-seok, indicating a three-way race for the governor position.

According to a poll conducted by Realmeter and released on the 4th at the request of MBN, 815 men and women aged 18 or older residing in Gyeonggi Province were surveyed on June 2-3 regarding their support for the Gyeonggi governor candidates. Democratic Party candidate Kim Dong-yeon received 47.9%, People Power Party candidate Kim Eun-hye received 38.8%, and independent candidate Kang Yong-seok received 5.6% support.

A poll conducted by Polling Fairness Co., Ltd. and released on the 3rd at the request of Jayu Ilbo surveyed 1,002 men and women aged 18 or older residing in Gyeonggi Province on the 2nd. The results showed Kim Eun-hye with 46.8%, Kim Dong-yeon with 38.9%, and Kang Yong-seok with 9.0% support.

People Networks Research (PNR), commissioned by New Daily, conducted a survey on May 23-24 targeting 804 men and women aged 18 or older residing in Gyeonggi Province. The results showed Kim Dong-yeon at 50.2%, Kim Eun-hye at 34.0%, and independent candidate Kang Yong-seok at 8.7%.

For more details on the polls, please refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Candidate Polling Graph [Polling Agency]

Meanwhile, as Kang Yong-seok has ranked third ahead of other third-zone candidates in several polls, his chances of participating in the candidate TV debate have increased.

During the election campaign period, the Central Election Broadcasting Debate Commission holds legally mandated debates. According to the Public Official Election Act, candidates eligible to participate include those recommended by parties with five or more members in the National Assembly, candidates recommended by parties that received more than 3% of votes in the previous presidential, proportional representation National Assembly, or proportional representation local elections, and candidates who have an average support rate of 5% or more in polls published by media organizations within one month prior to the campaign period.

In particular, the support rate for independent candidate Kang in the Seoul metropolitan area, where voter sentiment is unpredictable, is significant.

Kang's support rate surpasses that of Lee Jeong-mi of the Justice Party (which holds six seats in the National Assembly), who received 4.3% in the Incheon mayoral candidate poll during the same period.

Moreover, in Gyeonggi Province, one of the fiercest battlegrounds in the local elections, Kang's support base partially overlaps with that of Kim Eun-hye.

Analysts suggest that Kang's candidacy has complicated the Gyeonggi governor race, which was initially a close contest between Kim Dong-yeon and Kim Eun-hye.

Originally, Kang planned to rejoin the People Power Party ahead of the June 1 local elections and compete in the party's primary for the Gyeonggi governor candidacy.

However, the People Power Party denied his reentry, leading him to run as an independent candidate for the Gyeonggi governor election.

Kang has stated, "I will register and run as an independent candidate for Gyeonggi governor on May 12."

He also caused a stir by raising 1.97 billion won in campaign donations within 24 hours.

Kang's strategy is to boost his support rate through the legally mandated debates and seize the momentum.

Candidate debates, where intense exchanges of policies and rhetoric occur, can also be a minefield of irreversible 'slips of the tongue.'

If Kang participates in the debates, an unscripted, genuine showdown is expected, drawing increasing attention not only from supporters of the candidates but also from voters in Gyeonggi Province.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.