By Yi Whan-woo
Presidential frontrunner Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) widened the gap with runner-up Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party further after the third televised debate, according to a poll released Tuesday.
The poll, jointly conducted by the Hankook Ilbo and The Korea Times from Monday to Tuesday after the Sunday debate, showed Moon was leading Ahn 40.4 percent to 26.4 percent.
Moon garnered support of 37.7 percent against Ahn's 37 percent in the previous survey on April 8, five days before the debate.
Three minor candidates _ Hong Joon-pyo of the conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP), Sim Sang-jung of the progressive Justice Party and Yoo Seong-min of the Bareun Party _ won support of 10.8 percent, 8 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively, in the latest poll.
The telephone survey was taken on 1,000 adults nationwide. It had a margin of error at 3.1 percent.
Confidence palpable at Moon camp
The result came as Moon Jae-in appears to be convinced of his victory in the May 9 presidential election, after political attacks against him proved ineffective.
In a mass text message he sent out to his camp officials, Monday, he claimed that he "feels victory in my bones" and that the people and the DPK will win on May 9.
He is also mapping out details on his pledges aimed at reforming the monarchial governing style of the president while improving the living standards of the people amid a widening income gap and social inequality.
They include, moving the secluded presidential office at Cheong Wa Dae to the Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul; supplying 170,000 and 300,000 homes, respectively, for each newlyweds and single-households with low-incomes; and guaranteeing workers, many of who work overtime, to use all their annual leave.
During the third debate, Moon's opponents questioned his stance on North Korea in relation to a document released by former Foreign Minister Song Min-soon last week.
The document, purportedly obtained from Cheong Wa Dae, suggests that the Roh Moo-hyun administration consulted with North Korea before it abstained from voting on a U.N. resolution on Pyongyang's dire human rights situation in 2007. Moon was the presidential chief of staff at the time. Song was the foreign minister then.
The political offensive, which Moon called "a new type of red-baiting," was believed to be one of the two biggest threats to Moon's road to Cheong Wa Dae, along with a possible alliance of Ahn, Hong and Yoo.
Instead, the prosecution opened an investigation against Song, Tuesday, after Moon's camp accused him of making false claims, violating the Election Law and the law on presidential documents, and leaking government secrets.
The chances of an alliance among Ahn, Hong and Yoo appear slim so far as they all vow to complete the presidential race.
Hong is especially skeptical of joining the force with Ahn, a centrist whom he criticized as a "pseudo-conservative" over his views on national security-related issues.
"Moon appears to be capitalizing on a bandwagon effect to ensure that his lead will remain unchanged," political analyst Hwang Tae-soon said.
Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, agreed saying, "Moon is believed to be trying to consolidate his lead and discouraging his opponents."
Presidential frontrunner Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) widened the gap with runner-up Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party further after the third televised debate, according to a poll released Tuesday.
The poll, jointly conducted by the Hankook Ilbo and The Korea Times from Monday to Tuesday after the Sunday debate, showed Moon was leading Ahn 40.4 percent to 26.4 percent.
Moon garnered support of 37.7 percent against Ahn's 37 percent in the previous survey on April 8, five days before the debate.
Three minor candidates _ Hong Joon-pyo of the conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP), Sim Sang-jung of the progressive Justice Party and Yoo Seong-min of the Bareun Party _ won support of 10.8 percent, 8 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively, in the latest poll.
The telephone survey was taken on 1,000 adults nationwide. It had a margin of error at 3.1 percent.
Confidence palpable at Moon camp
![[Election 2017] Overseas voting kicks off for 6-day run](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/170425_p02_overseas_th287.jpg/dims/resize/84/optimize)
The result came as Moon Jae-in appears to be convinced of his victory in the May 9 presidential election, after political attacks against him proved ineffective.
In a mass text message he sent out to his camp officials, Monday, he claimed that he "feels victory in my bones" and that the people and the DPK will win on May 9.
He is also mapping out details on his pledges aimed at reforming the monarchial governing style of the president while improving the living standards of the people amid a widening income gap and social inequality.
They include, moving the secluded presidential office at Cheong Wa Dae to the Government Complex in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul; supplying 170,000 and 300,000 homes, respectively, for each newlyweds and single-households with low-incomes; and guaranteeing workers, many of who work overtime, to use all their annual leave.
During the third debate, Moon's opponents questioned his stance on North Korea in relation to a document released by former Foreign Minister Song Min-soon last week.
The document, purportedly obtained from Cheong Wa Dae, suggests that the Roh Moo-hyun administration consulted with North Korea before it abstained from voting on a U.N. resolution on Pyongyang's dire human rights situation in 2007. Moon was the presidential chief of staff at the time. Song was the foreign minister then.
The political offensive, which Moon called "a new type of red-baiting," was believed to be one of the two biggest threats to Moon's road to Cheong Wa Dae, along with a possible alliance of Ahn, Hong and Yoo.
Instead, the prosecution opened an investigation against Song, Tuesday, after Moon's camp accused him of making false claims, violating the Election Law and the law on presidential documents, and leaking government secrets.
The chances of an alliance among Ahn, Hong and Yoo appear slim so far as they all vow to complete the presidential race.
Hong is especially skeptical of joining the force with Ahn, a centrist whom he criticized as a "pseudo-conservative" over his views on national security-related issues.
"Moon appears to be capitalizing on a bandwagon effect to ensure that his lead will remain unchanged," political analyst Hwang Tae-soon said.
Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, agreed saying, "Moon is believed to be trying to consolidate his lead and discouraging his opponents."
