By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter

An overwhelming majority of South Korean people were found to be thinking the National Assembly’s impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun as ``wrong,’’ a poll showed on Friday.

In an opinion survey conducted by Media Research Inc., along with The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo, some 72.8 percent of the people described the legislative action as ``wrong’’ or ``very wrong.’’

Asked how Roh should act now, some 52.5 percent of the respondents said he should stay calm and wait for the Constitutional Court’s judgment, while a mere 11.1 percent said he should voluntarily step down right away. Some 19.3 percent replied Roh should actively counter the unprecedented move.

Regarding the approval ratings, the pro-government Uri Party closed in on nearly 40 percent, widening its lead over the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) in a two-way race for the forthcoming general elections. About 38.2 percent backed the Uri Party in the April 15 polls, while some 16.2 percent supported the GNP. Only 7.1 percent replied they support the minor opposition Millennium Democratic Party.

The survey canvassed 1,021 adults nationwide right after the passage of the impeachment motion, and the margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.

jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr