President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating falls slightly after rising for two straight weeks, according to a public opinion poll released Monday. The survey finds positive assessments of his job performance at 37.4%, down 0.5 percentage point from the previous week, while negative assessments are 59.8%, down 0.3 percentage point. About 2.8% of respondents say they are unsure.
The poll, conducted by Realmeter from last Monday through Friday among 2,515 adults nationwide, attributes the recent change to mixed political factors. Outlets report that Lee’s clarification of key political issues during a Sept. 18 press conference contributed to the prior increase. In the latest week, reported positive influences include announcements of livelihood and welfare policies funded by excess tax revenue. However, negative factors cited include controversy around establishing new investigative bodies—such as the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and the prosecution-related structure—and the appointment of the SCIA chief. Some reporting also references a recent land mine blast as part of the negative backdrop.
