Lead

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating remains at a record high of 69 percent, according to the latest National Barometer Survey (NBS) reported by Yonhap News Agency. The figure, consistent across two separate polls conducted in April, marks the third consecutive time the president has achieved this level, which is the highest since his inauguration in June of last year.

Coverage Comparison

Two separate Yonhap reports, both published in April, provide slightly different snapshots of the same polling series. The first, dated April 9, reported that Lee's approval rating was unchanged from an earlier survey, with 22 percent expressing a negative assessment. The second, dated April 23, noted that the negative assessment had inched down to 21 percent. Both reports agree on the headline figure of 69 percent approval, but differ on the exact number of respondents: the April 9 report cites 1,000 participants, while the April 23 report cites 1,005. The margin of error is identical in both reports: plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

Key Claims

  • Presidential approval: Both Yonhap reports confirm that President Lee's approval rating remained at 69 percent. The April 23 report emphasizes this is the third consecutive time the rating has held at that level, calling it a "record high."
  • Negative assessments: The April 9 report states that negative assessment of the president stayed at 22 percent, while the April 23 report says it dipped 1 percentage point to 21 percent. This discrepancy may reflect the natural fluctuation between polling periods.
  • Party support: The April 9 report puts support for the ruling Democratic Party (DP) at 47 percent, up 1 percentage point from a previous survey, with the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) at 18 percent. The April 23 report shows the DP at 48 percent, also up 1 point, while the PPP dropped 3 points to 15 percent, described as the lowest level under the current administration.
  • Electoral preferences: On the upcoming June 3 local elections, the April 9 report indicates 54 percent of respondents said voters should support the DP for stability, while 30 percent favored backing the opposition to keep the government in check. The April 23 report shows a similar split: 58 percent for the DP and 30 percent for the opposition.
  • Constitutional amendment: The April 9 report includes a question on holding a constitutional amendment referendum alongside the local elections: 61 percent supported the idea, while 23 percent opposed it. This topic is not mentioned in the April 23 report.

Perspectives

The constitutional amendment proposal appears to be a significant political issue. The April 9 report notes that lawmakers from the DP and five minor parties jointly proposed a bill to amend the Constitution, aiming to tighten requirements for declaring martial law and to incorporate the spirit of past pro-democracy movements. The main opposition PPP was reported to oppose the bill. This context may explain the high public support for a simultaneous referendum, as well as the DP's strong polling numbers.

The stability-versus-check framing in the local election question suggests that voters are weighing the benefits of a steady ruling party against the desire for opposition oversight. With the PPP's support at historically low levels, the electoral landscape appears favorable to the DP.

It is worth noting that both Yonhap reports are based on the same NBS polling series, conducted by four pollsters: Embrain Public, Kstat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research. The surveys were conducted among adults aged 18 and older, and the results are considered statistically reliable within the stated margin of error.

Conclusion

President Lee's approval rating remains at a record high, with strong public backing for the ruling party and majority support for a constitutional referendum. As the June 3 local elections approach, these figures will be closely watched for any shifts in voter sentiment.