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The Yeouido Institute, a think-tank of the opposition Grand National Party, conducted a survey with the Korean Social Science Data Center of 1,000 voters that reveals a decrease in progressive voters and an increase in moderate voters compared to 2002.
When asked to declare their political stance, most respondents called themselves moderates, at 36.9 percent. Those who called themselves conservative numbered 30.2 percent, while progressives made up 27.1 percent.
Before the 2002 presidential election, self-described progressives made up the majority at 41.1 percent, followed by moderates at 32.3 percent and conservatives at 26.7 percent. In 1997, the order was conservative (41.5 percent), progressive (36.2 percent) and moderate (22.3 percent). In other words, in 10 years, voters have returned to more conservative and moderate positions.
By issue, voters today tend to be more progressive on economic policies and more conservative in social and political areas. A full 82.2 percent of respondents agreed with imposing higher taxes on the wealthy while just 9.8 percent opposed. Asked if they agreed with continued reform of large conglomerates, a majority 67.5 percent said yes while 12.4 percent said no. And when asked if the government should impose higher taxes to help the poor, 44.1 percent agreed and 38.1 percent disagreed.
However, when it comes to social policies, such as cracking down on illegal strikers, those who agreed with idea outnumbered those who disagreed by three-to-one, at 64.6 percent to 21.2 percent. Most people, at 50 percent, opposed the abolition of the death penalty, while 32.4 percent agreed with it. And 52.4 percent of respondents said that the government should play an active role in resolving human rights issues in North Korea, whereas 21.3 percent said it should not.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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