Old poll data is misrepresented because of the recent South Korean presidential election investigation
Less than three weeks after South Korea's presidential election, the graphics were shared in a social media post that incorrectly claimed it showed the latest poll data released on May 13. The chart shows that BJP candidate Kim Moon-soo is leading the Democratic Party’s Lee Jae-Myung, actually using figures from January and FEBRECT. Official poll data released by the National Election Commission showed that the graph has been changed to remove the date of the investigation.
“Current data 2025 5 13, “Read a part of the graphic title shared on Facebook on May 14.
The figure, titled “Opinion Polls”, shows the results of three surveys conducted by pollsters Jowon C&I, Wingkorea Consulting and Kopra.
All three surveys show that BJP candidate Kim Mun-Soo leads opposition Democratic candidate Lee Jae-Myung.
Screenshot of False Facebook post, captured on May 14, 2025
The figure surfaced ahead of South Korea's interim presidential election on June 3, which was removed from office by former leader Yoon Suk Yeol in December for his brief martial law declaration.
Most pre-election poll data released by local media suggest Lee leads Kim on a broad margin of 10 points and above (archive link).
In the survey results released on May 14, the Gallup South Korean poll conducted from May 12 to 13 showed that Lee was 51% and Kim was 31%, while the Hangil study survey from May 11 to 12 showed that Lee was 50% and Kim was 38% (archived here and here).
However, the graphics that showcase King Lead Lee are widely shared among conservative social media users.
“This proves that most of the polls posted by the media are fake and lie to us.” Comments on one of the articles.
Another said: “Other polls were tampered with to get us out of voting.”
However, the loop graph uses data starting in early 2025.
Old poll numbers
A keyword search found that the graphics used in fake posts have been changed from those published in the Asiatay report on May 11, which says the surveys were conducted from late January to late February (archived link).
The report calls these investigations “examples of the past” and reflects the “possibility that conservative camps could defeat Lee if they unite.”
The date of the investigation is cropped out from the wrong shared graph.
Screenshot comparison of the error shared graphics (left) and ASIATODAY graphics released on May 11 (right), whose cropped dates are highlighted by AFP
South Korea's election law requires that all pre-election polls be registered on the website National Election Investigation Review Committee (Archive Link).
The graph posted by Asiatoday correctly lists the Jowon C&I poll dates from January 18-19 and Wingkorea Consulting from February 12 to February 21-21 Kopra Poll, which matches the data on the committee’s website (here and here, here and here).
AFP could not find any poll results released on May 13, which matched the numbers used in the wrongly shared graph.
AFP previously debunked similar false claims and misrepresented the old findings because of his approval number of former President Yoon Suk Yeol after he impeached each other.
