33% Up by 3 Percentage Points... People Power Party Returns to 1st Place with 35% Support Rate
President Yoon Shares Achievements with Aides and Orders Follow-up Measures a Day After Returning
Presidential Office: "Consultations with Relevant Parties at Each Ministry Level Begin as Follow-up"
Domestic Issues Pile Up... Yoon Likely to Personally Address Livelihood Problems for the Time Being
President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating for his administration rose by 3 percentage points from last week to 33%. This increase is seen as reflecting the expansion of medical school quotas as well as economic cooperation achievements during his state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The People Power Party also regained its top position in party support ratings.
According to a public opinion poll released by Gallup on the 27th (conducted from the 24th to 26th via telephone interviews with 1,003 adults aged 18 and over nationwide), President Yoon's approval rating increased by 3 percentage points compared to last week. Negative evaluations also dropped by 3 percentage points to 58%.
President Yoon's approval rating, which had been shaken after the defeat in the Gangseo District Office election, is interpreted as rising due to the consolidation of his support base. Positive evaluations of his administration in the core support region of Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) increased from 45% to 49%. Last week's survey showed negative evaluations in the TK region were higher than positive ones, causing a shock. Among supporters of the People Power Party, approval also rose from 69% to 74%.
Above all, the expansion of medical school quotas appears to have influenced the rise in approval ratings. Among the reasons for positive evaluations of President Yoon's administration was the 'expansion of medical school quotas.' In party support ratings, the People Power Party's support rose by 2 percentage points to 35%, reclaiming first place. The Democratic Party's support dropped by 2 percentage points to 32% compared to the previous survey.
This also seems to reflect the achievements from the recent overseas visits. From the 21st, President Yoon became the first Korean head of state to make a state visit to Saudi Arabia and Qatar over four nights and six days. In Saudi Arabia, contracts and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) worth approximately $15.6 billion (21.1 trillion KRW) were secured, and in Qatar, about $4.6 billion (6.2 trillion KRW) worth. Combined, this totals approximately $20.2 billion (27.3 trillion KRW).
In line with this, President Yoon shared the outcomes of the visits with his aides from early morning and received reports on domestic and international issues. A senior official from the presidential office stated, "From now on, detailed consultations with the relevant countries at each ministry level will begin as follow-up measures to the Saudi Arabia and Qatar summits."
In Saudi Arabia, President Yoon adopted a joint statement for the first time in 43 years and opened the door to large-scale defense cooperation. The joint statement included specific cooperation items in areas such as ▲trade and investment ▲construction and infrastructure ▲defense and arms ▲new cooperation. They also laid the foundation for cooperation to ensure the success of infrastructure projects related to Saudi Arabia's ongoing 'NEOM Project' and giga projects such as Qiddiya, the Red Sea development, ROSHN, and Diriyah. In Qatar, bilateral relations were elevated to a 'comprehensive strategic partnership.' Notably, during the summit with the Emir of Qatar, a single contract was signed for the construction of LNG carriers worth $3.9 billion (5.2 trillion KRW), the largest ever.
One day after returning from the Middle East tour, President Yoon delivered a follow-up message and is expected to soon instruct cabinet ministers and other government officials to devise practical measures to achieve tangible results. Another presidential office official added, "Since contracts and MOUs were concluded through the state visits, prompt actions by each ministry are necessary."
While follow-up measures are being carried out at the ministry level, President Yoon is expected to personally visit the field to seek solutions for people's livelihoods. Given that the Ukraine war and the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas are causing international oil prices to rise and entrench high inflation, he intends to directly hear the voices of citizens facing difficulties.
Earlier, on the 19th, President Yoon stated, "From the chief of staff at Yongsan to senior secretaries, secretaries, and administrative officers, all aides should not just sit at their desks but delve into the field where people's livelihoods are and listen to vivid, living voices directly," adding, "I will also delve deeper into the difficult livelihoods of the people myself." Presidential aides, including Chief of Staff Kim Dae-gi, recently met with small business owners, employees of the Seoul Postal Service Headquarters, and officials from Neulbom School to listen to public sentiment. A presidential office official explained, "Since President Yoon said he would delve into people's livelihoods, he will increase field visits and spend time resolving various domestic issues."
However, there are also pressing issues inside and outside the presidential office that need to be addressed. Many presidential aides hope to run in the April 2024 National Assembly general election and are either retiring or preparing to retire, so new aides must be recruited. The nomination of a Minister of Gender Equality and Family is also urgent. Former nominee Kim Haeng, who was embroiled in controversies over 'stock parking' and 'breach of trust' and left during a parliamentary audit, voluntarily withdrew on the 12th, leaving Minister Kim Hyun-sook to perform the duties. President Yoon must nominate a new candidate, but since the opposition party is calling for a 'cabinet-wide resignation,' he must present a candidate without flaws.
The controversy over former secretary Kim Seung-hee's resignation remains a hot issue. Due to a school violence controversy involving Kim's child, the opposition party alleges that the presidential office knew in advance, tried to downplay the situation, and is attempting to cover it up with the drug use allegations against actor Lee Sun-kyun.
Regarding the highly anticipated trilateral meeting between President Yoon and the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, no decision has been made yet. Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Lee Jin-bok mentioned, "Representative Kim Ki-hyun said, 'Let's meet with me first,' so we need to watch the situation a bit," and the presidential office also avoided a direct answer, stating, "We need to observe the situation regarding the meeting of party leaders."
Meanwhile, detailed survey outlines and results related to the poll in the above article can be found on the website of the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission.
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