South Korea’s presidential race narrowed as Ahn Cheol-soo, an advocate of a tougher stance against North Korea, surged in polling to be nearly level with left-leaning front-runner Moon Jae-in.

Ahead of the May 9 election, support for Ahn of the centrist People’s Party jumped to 35 percent from 19 percent a week ago, the Gallup Korea survey showed on Friday. Moon, of the Democratic Party of Korea, garnered 38 percent support, up from 31 percent.