[Namgung Jin-woong = timeid@ajunews.com]
Moon Jae-in, former leader of the Democratic Party, maintained substantial leads in all hypothetical races with his potential rivals, a survey showed Sunday.
In a two-way competition, Moon led Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn by 56.4 percent to 22.8 percent in the poll conducted on Saturday and Sunday by Korea Research Center that was commissioned by Yonhap News Agency and KBS.
Compared to the poll released last month, Moon's standing advanced 4.1 percentage points while that of Hwang fell 0.8 percentage point.
Hwang, who has not yet expressed his presidential ambition, has emerged as an potential conservative contender after former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon dropped out of the race in February.
In a hypothetical match-up with another conservative politician, South Gyeongsang Gov. Hong Joon-pyo, Moon also led with 57.3 percent against Hong's 16.1 percent.
Moon also beat Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party in 45.7 percent to 32.3 percent. In a hypothetical three-way race, Moon posted 46.2 percent, exceeding Hwang's 19.4 percent and Ahn's 18.9 percent.
Compared to the poll conducted in February, Moon's standing advanced 1.2 percentage points. Moon also posted 43.6 percent in a hypothetical five-way race with the two and Rep. Yoo Seong-min of the Bareun Party and Rep. Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party.
The poll showed the Democratic Party will win the election even if South Chungcheong Gov. An Hee-jung runs as its final candidate, instead of Moon.
(Yonhap)
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
