Moon's approval rating hits 17-month high on coronavirus response: poll
SEOUL, April 13 (Yonhap) -- President Moon Jae-in's approval rating rose to a 17-month high last week on the back of positive assessment of the government's handling of the new coronavirus, a poll showed Monday.
Moon's support reached 54.4 percent last week, up 0.7 percentage point from the previous week, according to a Realmeter survey of 2,522 voters nationwide. The poll was conducted between last Monday and Friday.
It marked the highest rating since November 2018, when Moon's rating hit 55.4 percent.
"The assessment that the government has done well in containing the virus appeared to raise Moon's approval rating," a pollster said. "The liberal bloc also seemed to unify ahead of the April 15 general elections."
The gap between positive and negative evaluations of Moon's performance reached 12.1 percentage points, the largest since 14.3 percentage points recorded in November 2018.
South Korea will hold the quadrennial parliamentary elections Wednesday to fill the 300-seat unicameral National Assembly at a time when it is battling COVID-19.
Realmeter did not reveal the outcome of its survey on political parties or candidates, as the election law prevents pollsters from disclosing the results of polls from April 9 until the election day. The media also should not cite such polls.
The poll, commissioned by cable news network YTN had a margin of error of 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

This photo, provided by Cheong Wa Dae on April 10, 2020, shows President Moon Jae-in. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
(END)
-
(Yonhap Interview) BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group
-
BLACKPINK star Jisoo tests positive for COVID-19, to miss world tour stop in Osaka
-
(URGENT) Seoul city sends alert to residents to prepare for evacuation after N. Korea's launch
-
(News Focus) From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade
-
Seoul city sends alert to residents to prepare for possible evacuation after N. Korea's launch
-
(Yonhap Interview) BTS producer encourages anticipation for future messages from group
-
Fifty Fifty chart on Billboard Hot 100 for 10th week with 'Cupid'
-
BLACKPINK star Jisoo tests positive for COVID-19, to miss world tour stop in Osaka
-
(URGENT) Seoul city sends alert to residents to prepare for evacuation after N. Korea's launch
-
(News Focus) From hip-hop idols to global superstars, BTS shatters records over decade
-
3 EXO members file antitrust complaint against SM Entertainment
-
Gov't to abolish 30-yr period of prescription for death sentence
-
Tom Cruise to visit S. Korea to promote new film
-
Top S. Korean, German generals discuss military cooperation, war in Ukraine
-
S. Korea voices regret over N. Korea's threat to forgo prior notice for future satellite launch