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Ex-GNP leader surpassed by IT expert in polls By Lee Tae-hoon More voters would support Ahn Cheol-soo, founder of an antivirus software firm, than Park Geun-hye, the leading presidential contender of the ruling party, if the two were to face off in a presidential election. The 49-year-old computer expert has support of 43.2 percent, surpassing the 40.6 percent of Park, according to a survey of 700 people conducted Tuesday shortly after Ahn dropped his Seoul mayoral bid despite unrivaled popularity. Another poll of 1,108 carried out the same day by Mono Research also revealed that Ahn has overtaken the former chairwoman of the governing Grand National Party (GNP) in popularity with his support reaching 42.4 percent, compared to Park’s 40.5 percent. This is the first time for Park, daughter of the late President Park Chung-hee, to concede her lead in opinion polls for the 2012 presidential vote. Some speculated that Ahn abandoned his bid for Seoul mayor with the forthcoming presidential election in December 2012 in mind, but he flatly denied that. “Absolutely not. In fact, I haven’t even had time to think about it,” he said Wednesday. He downplayed the possibility of becoming a presidential candidate, saying his strong popularity in recent polls is rather attributed to the public’s distrust of existing politicians. “It must be a temporary phenomenon,” he said. Experts, however, pointed out that the surprising outcomes of the surveys signal a possible shift in the nation’s political landscape and this will prompt skeptics to cast doubt on Park’s potential. “It is a red light on the public’s belief that Park is destined to be next president,” Rep. Won Hee-ryong of the GNP said. Another GNP lawmaker Cho Hae-jin concurred with him, saying people no longer believe Park will be the most likely winner of the next presidential election. Some observers predict Park may even see her approval rating nosedive in the near future, unless she distances herself from the negative image created by her party’s constant factional feuding and indifference to the welfare of low-income families. Park also did not deny the need to bring change. “We will take it as an opportunity to usher in new politics,” the 59-year-old former GNP chairwoman said. Rep. Chun Yu-ok of the GNP forecast that the political landscape will be hard to predict as an increasing number of voters will seek a fresh alternative to the current political establishment. “We have witnessed a shift in the mind of voters,” she said. Rep. Lee Hahn-koo of the GNP took the disappointing survey results as a warning message from the public who have been disappointed with Park. “Park should also continue to make efforts to communicate with the public,” he said.
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| leeth@koreatimes.co.kr |
