[Polpol News] President Yoon's Approval Rating Drops to Early 20% Range Again... Gallup Reports "Down 4%p, 23%"

"75% Worried About Japan's Nuclear Wastewater Discharge"
Financial Investment Tax "As Scheduled" 39% vs "Should Not Be Implemented" 41%

President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating for his administration has fallen to the low 20% range. Criticism over the conflict between the medical community and the government, sparked by the expansion of medical school quotas, has intensified.

According to a regular survey released on the 30th by the polling firm Gallup (conducted from the 27th to 29th, targeting 1,002 nationwide respondents aged 18 and over, using random sampling of mobile phone users and interviewer-administered phone surveys), President Yoon's approval rating dropped 4 percentage points from the previous week to 23%. Negative evaluations rose by 3 percentage points to 66%. The response that President Yoon is currently "doing well" was prominent only among People Power Party supporters (57%) and those aged 70 and above (50%).

On the 29th, citizens are watching President Yoon Suk-yeol's government briefing in the waiting room of Seoul Station. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

The conflict between the medical community and the government appears to be acting as a negative factor. Among respondents who evaluated his job performance negatively (659 people), 14% pointed to the economy, livelihood, and prices as reasons, the highest share, followed by 8% citing the expansion of medical school quotas. This is a 6 percentage point increase compared to the previous survey. Among those who evaluated his job performance positively (231 people), decisiveness, drive, and perseverance (8%) were cited as reasons for support, along with diplomacy.

In terms of party support, the People Power Party's support rate fell by 2 percentage points to 30%, while the Democratic Party of Korea remained the same at 31%. The Innovation Party received 7%, and the non-affiliated group accounted for 26%.

This survey also found that concerns about the discharge of contaminated water from Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant remain high. 75% of respondents (58% very worried, 17% somewhat worried) said they were "worried." Those who answered "not worried" accounted for 22% (10% not very worried, 12% not worried at all). Gallup reported, "Even among groups generally favorable to the current ruling party, such as conservatives (56%), those aged 70 and above (66%), People Power Party supporters (47%), and those with a positive evaluation of the president (46%), about half expressed concern."

Regarding the government's and ruling party's claim that the risk of discharge is "exaggerated," public opinion did not agree. While 34% of respondents viewed it as exaggerated, 54% believed it was not exaggerated.

Regarding the financial investment income tax, 39% said it should be implemented as planned, while 41% said it should not be implemented. Among stock investors specifically, 42% supported implementation, while 54% opposed it.

For more details about the survey, please refer to the website of the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission.