The party is now tied with the main opposition Democratic Party, which which has shown an overall rise. The approval rating of the PPP dropped to 36%, continuing its slide since winning the mayoral elections in June, according to the poll. The conservative-backed administration’ approval rating has sunk to 28%, while 62% were dissatisfied with Yoon, according to a tracking poll by Gallup Korea Friday. The approval ratings for the president, his government and the party have plunged since the messages were released. Kweon apologized almost immediately, and the presidential office defended Yoon, saying it would be “inappropriate” to read too much into the text messages. Last week, text messages between Kweon and Yoon were leaked to the media and appeared to show the two expressing their pleasure at the change in the party’s leadership. The party is set to appoint an interim leader to guide until the next primary, which is yet to be scheduled, or until Lee returns to his seat.Ĭonservatives’ Plan to Regain Power Unravels in South Korea Kweon’s offer to quit comes less than a month after 37-year-old party leader Lee Jun-seok was suspended for six months over an alleged sex scandal, which he claims was a political set-up by Yoon’s inner circles.Īt least three PPP lawmakers have resigned from their leadership posts since Friday.

South korean struggles root out sexual