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People’s Party presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo (left) during a meeting with international traders

Minjoo Party candidate Moon Jae-in and People’s Party candidate Ahn Cheol-soo stayed at first and second place within the margin of error in support for next month’s presidential election, a recent poll shows.

Poll results for the second week of April released on Apr. 14 by Gallup Korea showed Moon in first place with the support of 40% of respondents and Ahn with 37%. The contest remained a battle between the two leaders, both of whom enjoyed two percentage point boosts from last week. Conservative Liberty Korea Party candidate Hong Joon-pyo polled at 7%, conservative Bareun Party candidate Yoo Seong-min at 3%, and left-wing Justice Party candidate Shim Sang-jung at 3%.

Moon led Ahn among respondents in Seoul (39% to 36%), Incheon/Gyeonggi Province (43% to 38%), Gwangju/Jeolla Province (47% to 36%), and Busan/Ulsan/South Gyeongsang Province (41% to 28%). Ahn was ahead of Moon in Daejeon/Sejong/Chungcheong Province (42% to 39%) and Daegu/North Gyeongsang Province (48% to 25%).

Among the 908 respondents who reported that they “definitely plan to vote,” the Gallup poll found a six percentage point difference in support for Moon (42%) and Ahn (36%).

“In contrast with the other candidates, Ahn Cheol-soo’s support far exceeds support for his party. The fact that so many of his supporters come from outside the moderate People’s Party support base could be seen as indicating greater uncertainty and potential for fluctuation compared to the other candidates,” Gallup said, repeating the opinion it shared with the release of poll findings a week before.

The poll was conducted with 1,010 adult respondents nationwide on Apr. 11 and had a margin of error of ±3.1% and a 95% confidence level. It was performed through telephone interviews of a respondent sample selected through mobile phone random digit dialing, with a 23% response rate.

By Lee Seung-joon, staff reporter

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