Negative Ratings Lead Just 6 Weeks After Inauguration
Impact of Police Personnel Changes and 52-Hour Workweek Confusion
Ongoing Conflict Among Ruling Party Supporting Government
Verbal Clash Between Lee Jun-seok and Yoon Core Faction
Jang Je-won Showcases Forum Amidst This
[Asia Economy reporters Hyunju Lee and Hyunji Kwon] President Yoon Suk-yeol and the ruling party's approval ratings are showing a worrying decline. The internal strife within the People Power Party and instability in President Yoon's governance have combined to cause a simultaneous downward trend, with a recent 'death cross' phenomenon where negative evaluations have surpassed positive ones. There is growing demand for a thorough review of overall governance and early resolution of the party's internal conflicts, but the prevailing assessment is that reconciling these conflicts will not be easy. About 50 lawmakers attended the Future Innovation Forum seminar led by People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won, showcasing their influence. Party leader Lee Jun-seok, who is at odds with the pro-Yoon (Pro-Yoon) faction, did not attend the seminar.
On the 27th, Realmeter, a polling agency, asked 2,515 people aged 18 and over nationwide from the 20th to the 24th about President Yoon's 'state governance.' The response of 'doing well' was 46.6%, while 'doing poorly' was 47.7%. This is the first time a death cross has occurred in Realmeter polls since President Yoon took office. The difference between positive and negative evaluations was 1.1 percentage points, within the margin of error (±2.0 percentage points at a 95% confidence level).
The Korea Social Opinion Institute's survey released on the same day also confirmed the death cross phenomenon where negative evaluations surpassed positive ones. The evaluation of President Yoon's governance was 46.8% positive and 47.4% negative, with negative evaluations prevailing within the margin of error. (Conducted on the 24th-25th with 1,001 adults aged 18 and over nationwide commissioned by TBS; sampling error ±3.1 percentage points at 95% confidence level; response rate 6.3%; detailed information available on the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website)
The decline in President Yoon's approval rating is widely attributed to public disappointment in governance due to consecutive mistakes amid worsening economic conditions. Lee Taek-soo, CEO of Realmeter, said, "The economic recession is a factor in the decline of President Yoon's approval rating." Lee Kang-yoon, director of the Korea Social Opinion Institute, analyzed, "Confusion arose during the announcement of police commissioner personnel, the mention of 'national discipline disruption,' and the process of revising the 52-hour workweek system," adding, "This reflects the public's anxiety and concern about whether the Yoon Suk-yeol government can manage governance well amid the economic crisis."
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 27th and greeting Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
The ruling People Power Party's approval rating is also continuing its downward trend. Although it recorded the 50% range shortly after becoming the ruling party, the referral of party leader Lee to the ethics committee and ongoing conflicts within the pro-Yoon faction have reflected disappointment in the approval ratings.
Despite the falling approval ratings, conflicts show little sign of resolution. Last week, the People Power Party's Supreme Council meeting, which was already tense due to repeated disputes between party leader Lee and Supreme Council member Bae Hyun-jin, proceeded in a heavy atmosphere on this day as well. Lee did not make any public remarks, and the closed meeting ended after about five minutes.
Pro-Yoon faction leader lawmaker Jang Je-won held the 'Future Innovation Forum' at the National Assembly on this day, inviting former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in. About 50 current lawmakers, including Ahn Cheol-soo and Jung Jin-seok, attended the event, which was seen as a show of strength. Floor leader Kwon Seong-dong praised Kim Jong-in in his congratulatory speech, saying, "When the party was on the verge of collapse, Kim Jong-in took on the role of emergency committee chairman and rebuilt the party," adding, "He is nothing less than the top contributor to the regime change."
Former People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Jong-in is attending the party members' meeting "Korea Future Innovation Forum," led by Representative Jang Je-won, at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
The presidential office and the ruling party were reserved about the decline in approval ratings. A presidential office official said regarding the approval rating announcement, "We will not comment," and floor leader Kwon Seong-dong said to reporters after the Supreme Council meeting, "Approval ratings go up and down, but the government and the party must work harder to earn trust."
However, there is a strong sense of crisis among lawmakers that if the internal strife is not resolved quickly, public opinion could worsen further. People Power Party lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun said on a radio show that day, "The ruling party is causing discord within the party leadership early in its term, upsetting the public, so we are being heavily criticized these days," adding, "Including myself, I hope we all exercise self-restraint and take measures to prevent any more regrettable incidents."
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