Lee's approval rating drops to new low of 38%

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating continued to slide, hitting a new low, according to a survey released by Gallup Korea on Friday.

The survey of about 1,000 adults nationwide conducted earlier this week found that 38 percent of respondents said Lee was doing a good job, down 2 percentage points from the previous week and the lowest level since he took office in July last year.

Some 51 percent of respondents held negative views, unchanged from the previous poll, while 11 percent remained undecided.

Housing-related policies were the most frequently cited reason for disapproval, with 24 percent of respondents citing them.

Controversies over personnel appointments including those involving gender minister nominee Yong Hye-in and Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won followed at 16 percent, with a growing number of respondents saying both were unfit for the posts.

Economic and livelihood issues were cited by 10 percent, while 6 percent pointed to moral concerns amid allegations that Lee, who has been accused of a slew of charges, sought to avoid his own trial after leaving office.

Kim has been accused of lobbying authorities over the approval of a COVID-19 treatment in 2021, while Yong has faced criticism for trying to keep her parliamentary seat after being nominated for a Cabinet post, as well as allegations of nepotism and issues involving her minor party.

Lee's support fell sharply among people in their 40s to 45 percent, down 10 percentage points from a week earlier, while rising by 6 percentage points among those aged 18 to 29 and by 4 percentage points among those in their 30s.

The poll also showed little change in support for the ruling Democratic Party (DP), which remained at 38 percent. Support for the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) stood at 29 percent, down 1 percentage point from the previous week.

AJP Takeaways

- President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating fell to 38 percent, according to a Gallup Korea survey of about 1,000 adults conducted in the week before the poll was released, marking the lowest approval level since Lee took office in July 2025.

- Housing policies were the leading reason for dissatisfaction, cited by 24 percent of respondents, followed by controversies surrounding Cabinet appointments at 16 percent and economic and livelihood concerns at 10 percent.

- Political party support remained relatively stable: the ruling Democratic Party (DP) held 38-percent support, while the opposition People Power Party (PPP) stood at 29 percent, down 1 percentage point from the previous poll.