President Lee's Approval Rating Dips to 52%; Majority Supports Maintaining Prosecutorial Investigation Rights

President Lee's national approval rating has dipped slightly to 52%, a 1% point decrease from the prior week, according to a recent Korea Gallup poll. Concurrently, the negative assessment of his performance rose by 2% points to 37%.

The poll, conducted from March 14-16 among 1,003 adults nationwide, also revealed significant public opinion on the contentious issue of prosecutorial supplementary investigation rights. A substantial majority, 61%, believe these rights should be maintained, while only 23% advocate for their complete abolition. This contrasts with the Democratic Party's internal debate, where 46% of party supporters favor retaining the rights, and 39% support their full repeal.

In terms of party support, the Democratic Party saw a 2% point decrease, now standing at 40%. Conversely, the People Power Party gained 2% points, reaching 26% support. The highest approval ratings for President Lee's performance were observed among those in their 40s and 50s, with 68% expressing satisfaction.

President Lee and the government have previously emphasized the necessity of partially retaining supplementary investigation rights. The debate over prosecutorial reform and the future of these investigation powers remains a key topic within the ruling party.