Lee's approval rating falls below 60 pct amid ballot shortage controversy: poll

Lead

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has fallen below 60 percent for the first time in four months, according to two separate polls, amid public discontent over ballot shortages that disrupted voting in parts of Seoul during last week's local elections.

Coverage Comparison

Two surveys, both reported by Yonhap News Agency, show similar declines in the president's approval rating, though they were conducted by different polling organizations and over slightly different periods.

One poll, conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday on 1,002 people aged 18 and older, placed Lee's positive job performance at 57 percent, a drop of 7 percentage points from the previous survey in the third week of May. The negative assessment rose 7 percentage points to 35 percent.

A second survey, the National Barometer Survey (NBS), conducted from Monday to Wednesday by Embrain Public, Kstat Research, Korea Research and Hankook Research on 1,001 people aged 18 and older, also measured Lee's approval at 57 percent, a decline of 9 percentage points from the previous NBS poll three weeks earlier. The negative assessment rose 9 percentage points to 33 percent.

Both polls reported a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

Key Claims

• First drop below 60 percent in four months: According to the Gallup Korea survey, Lee's approval rating fell below 60 percent for the first time since early February. The NBS poll noted that his approval had stood at a record high of 69 percent for three consecutive NBS polls from late March through late April, before slipping to 67 percent and then 66 percent in subsequent surveys.

• Reasons for negative assessments: The Gallup Korea poll found that among negative responses, allegations of election irregularities involving the National Election Commission were cited most frequently at 16 percent, followed by concerns over the economy at 14 percent and real estate policies at 9 percent.

• Party support trends: Both surveys recorded declines in support for the ruling Democratic Party (DP). Gallup found DP support fell 4 percentage points to 41 percent, while the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) climbed 7 percentage points to 29 percent. The NBS showed DP support at 41 percent (down 4 percentage points) and PPP support at 25 percent (up 5 percentage points).

• Election results context: Both sources noted that the DP won 12 of the 16 key metropolitan mayoral and gubernatorial races in the June 3 elections but failed to secure key battlegrounds, including the Seoul mayoral race and a parliamentary by-election in Busan. The NBS also found that 45 percent of respondents said opposition parties, including the PPP, outperformed expectations, while 31 percent said the DP showed better results than anticipated.

Perspectives

Both reports attribute the decline in Lee's approval and DP support to the controversy over ballot shortages during the local elections. The Gallup Korea poll specifically highlighted allegations of election irregularities involving the National Election Commission as the top reason for negative assessments. The NBS survey similarly pointed to the ballot shortage controversy as a factor.

While the two polls employed different methodologies and field dates, their findings align closely, indicating a consistent trend in public opinion. The timing of the surveys—conducted in the days following the June 3 elections—suggests that the election-related controversy is a key driver of the decline.

Lee's approval rating had remained above 60 percent for several months, with the NBS showing a record high of 69 percent in late March through late April. The current dip below the 60 percent threshold marks a notable shift in public sentiment, though both polls note that a majority of respondents still view his performance positively.

The articles do not include direct quotes from Lee's office or the ruling party, but the DP's failure in key battlegrounds, despite overall success in the elections, suggests internal challenges within the party's support base. The PPP's rising support, as reflected in both polls, may signal a shift in voter alignment ahead of the next electoral cycle.