Seoul, April 18
Former South Korean Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung has a strong lead among potential candidates for the June 3 presidential election, a survey showed on Friday.
In the poll conducted by Gallup Korea on 1,000 adults from Tuesday to Thursday, Lee garnered 38 per cent support, marking his highest rating in Gallup polls this year.
Trailing behind at 7 per cent were former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo of the conservative People Power Party (PPP), as well as Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who currently serves as the acting president.
Han has not declared his candidacy despite ongoing speculation about his possible bid.
Former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon came next with 6 per cent, followed by Lee Jun-seok, a lawmaker of the minor opposition New Reform Party, at 2 per cent.
Twenty-six percent of the respondents did not show support for a particular candidate, agency reported.
By party, the DP received 42 per cent support, outpacing the PPP at 34 per cent.
The survey has a margin of error of plus and minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.
The South Korean government designated June 3 as the date of the next presidential election following the ouster of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.