Former lawmaker Kim Yong-nam of the Democratic Party and Cho Kuk, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, are locked in a tight race within the margin of error in the upcoming parliamentary by-election for the Pyeongtaek-B constituency in Gyeonggi Province.
Kim recorded a support rate of 30.8%, according to a poll commissioned by Incheon Ilbo and conducted by Hangil Research on Dec. 1-2 among 500 men and women aged 18 and older residing in the Pyeongtaek-B district. The results were released Wednesday.
Cho came in second with 23.0%, followed by former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Eui-dong at 19.8%. Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Freedom and Innovation Party, received 9.6%, while Kim Jae-yeon, standing representative of the Progressive Party, took 9.3%. Other candidates accounted for 0.3%, while 3.9% said they supported no candidate and 3.3% were undecided. The gap between Kim and Cho was 7.8 percentage points, within the margin of error.
Among respondents who said they would definitely vote, Kim led with 34.9% and Cho followed with 27.0%, a gap of 7.9 percentage points. Yoo was next at 15.6%, followed by Kim Jae-yeon at 9.8% and Hwang at 8.8%.
By age group, Kim Yong-nam drew strong support from voters in their 50s and 60s. Among those in their 50s, Kim received 42.9%, Cho 21.3%, and Yoo 13.9%. In the 60s bracket, Kim garnered 41.8%, Cho 21.3%, and Yoo 13.8%. Among those aged 70 and older, Yoo led with 44.0%, outpacing Kim beyond the margin of error.
In party support, the Democratic Party recorded 48.1%, leading the People Power Party (22.1%) by 26.0 percentage points. The Rebuilding Korea Party followed at 7.6%, the Progressive Party at 5.6%, and the Reform Party at 2.4%. Respondents who said they supported no party accounted for 7.1%, while 3.0% were undecided.
The survey was conducted via automated response system using virtual mobile phone numbers. The margin of error is ±4.4 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, with a response rate of 7.7%. Further details are available on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.
