Seoul: A three-way presidential race in South Korea has intensified as the Democratic Party (DP) candidate Lee Jae-myung's lead has diminished in the latest opinion polls, while Kim Moon-soo from the People Power Party (PPP) is gaining traction.
According to Yonhap News Agency, with the election only eight days away, opinion polls continue to show Lee in the lead, but the gap between him and Kim has decreased, with Lee Jun-seok of the minor New Reform Party (NRP) securing double-digit support. A Realmeter survey released Saturday indicates that Lee has 46.6 percent support, Kim has 37.6 percent, and NRP's Lee holds 10.4 percent. The survey's margin of error is 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.
A previous Realmeter survey conducted on May 11 showed Lee with 52.1 percent support against Kim's 31.1 percent in a hypothetical three-way race, with NRP's Lee at 6.3 percent. Despite ongoing speculation about a potential merger between the NRP and PPP candidates, NRP's Lee has firmly stated he will not withdraw his candidacy before Election Day.
As early voting approaches, attention is on whether Kim and NRP's Lee will merge their candidacies. Despite efforts by the PPP to persuade NRP's Lee to combine forces, he has dismissed these appeals, emphasizing his commitment to remaining in the race.
The DP's Lee remains the front-runner in a campaign to replace former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted due to a failed martial law bid. On Monday, Lee visited Gyeonggi Province to appeal to swing voters in the greater Seoul area, a significant electoral battleground. His day included engagements with students at Ajou University and campaign rallies at various locations.
Meanwhile, Kim of the PPP visited Samsung's Pyeongtaek Campus to showcase his achievements as a former Gyeonggi governor. Before this visit, he announced regional development pledges at the PPP's Cheonan office and conducted rallies in Anseong and Pyeongtaek, with plans to conclude his day with a rally in northern Seoul.