"President Yoon's Negative Rating Hits 60% in Three Months... 'Forced Labor and Working Hours' Setbacks"

Gallup Poll
'Positive' Down 1%p to 33%
Democratic Party and People Power Party Support Both at 34%

Negative evaluations of President Yoon Suk-yeol's performance in office reached 60% for the first time in three months. This is analyzed to be due to growing public backlash over issues such as forced labor compensation and relations with Japan, as well as the 69-hour workweek proposal.

According to Gallup's regular public opinion survey conducted from the 14th to the 16th (a telephone interview survey of 1,003 adults aged 18 and over nationwide), President Yoon's approval rating dropped by 1 percentage point from the previous week to 33%, while disapproval rose by 2 percentage points to 60%.

Among those who gave a positive evaluation of his job performance (330 respondents), the reasons cited were 'labor union response' (18%), 'diplomacy' (9%), 'improvement of Japan relations' (7%), 'economy and livelihood,' 'overall good performance,' and 'principles and conviction' (all 5%). Among those who gave a negative evaluation (603 respondents), the reasons were 'Japan relations and forced labor compensation issue,' 'diplomacy' (both 15%), 'economy, livelihood, and prices' (10%), and 'arbitrary and unilateral' (7%). 'Labor policy and work hour reform plan' accounted for 4% of the reasons for negative evaluation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Gallup explained, "The government announced a third-party compensation plan for victims of Japanese forced labor and a work hour reform plan on March 6, but the reasons for negative evaluations included many more criticisms related to Japan and diplomacy than labor issues."

In terms of party support, the People Power Party's support rate fell by 4 percentage points from the previous survey to 34%. The Democratic Party of Korea rose by 1 percentage point to 34%. As a result, the gap in support between the two major parties was eliminated, resulting in a tie.

A notable point in this week's survey was the section on working hours. Regarding the current maximum of 52 hours per week, 60% of respondents said it was 'appropriate.' Those who said it was 'too much' accounted for 19%, and those who said it was 'too little' accounted for 16%. Interestingly, one in four people in their 20s and 30s (26%) felt that the maximum 52-hour workweek was excessive, while one in four self-employed workers (27%) felt it was insufficient.

Regarding the 'maximum 69-hour workweek system,' which the government expressed its intention to promote but President Yoon indicated a reservation, saying that more than 60 hours per week would be excessive, 36% supported it while 56% opposed it.

Gallup explained, "Negative views were predominant across most respondent characteristics, especially strong among those in their 30s and 40s and office workers (all in the high 60% range)."

For detailed survey outlines and results related to this public opinion poll, please refer to the website of the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission.