President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating hits lowest point

President Lee Jae Myung is facing declining public approval, with a recent Gallup Korea poll showing more Koreans disapprove of his performance than approve for the first time since he assumed office. The survey of 1,000 adults aged 18 and over revealed that 46% disapproved of Lee's presidency, while 44% approved.

This marks a significant shift from previous polls, with Lee's approval rating dropping 7 percentage points to its lowest level since he took office. His disapproval rating, conversely, rose 8 points, surpassing his approval rating for the first time. The trend was particularly pronounced among respondents who did not identify with a political party, where disapproval stood at 55% compared to 24% approval.

When asked about the reasons for their dissatisfaction, respondents most frequently cited real estate policy as the primary cause for disapproval, accounting for 30% of responses. The economy and people's livelihoods were the second most common reasons, mentioned by 13% of those disapproving. A general assessment of "doing a poor job" was cited by 7% of respondents.

Conversely, foreign policy emerged as the leading reason for approval, cited by 19% of respondents who approved of Lee's performance. The economy and people's livelihoods also featured as a reason for approval, accounting for 15% of responses, while 8% felt he was "doing a good job" overall. In terms of party support, the Democratic Party maintained a substantial lead with 41% support, compared to 25% for the People Power Party.