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President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has dropped to its lowest point since he took office in June last year, according to a Gallup Korea poll released Friday. The survey shows his disapproval rating exceeding 40 percent for the first time, amid mounting public concerns over the economy, housing policies, and alleged irregularities involving the National Election Commission.
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Two separate polls have been reported by Yonhap News Agency, each showing a decline in President Lee's approval rating, though the exact figures differ. The most recent survey, conducted by Gallup Korea, found that positive assessments of Lee's performance fell 6 percentage points to 51 percent, marking the lowest level since his inauguration. The negative assessment rose by the same margin to 41 percent, the first time his disapproval rating has topped 40 percent in Gallup polls.
An earlier poll, commissioned by the EKN newspaper and conducted by Realmeter, showed Lee's approval rating at 46.7 percent, down 4.8 percentage points from a week earlier, with his disapproval rating at 49.7 percent. That survey was released on June 22 and reflected public sentiment after the June 3 local elections, which were marred by ballot shortages.
The two surveys used different methodologies and were conducted at slightly different times, which may account for the variation in numbers. Both reports, however, agree on the overall trend of declining approval and rising disapproval for the president.