[Polpol News] Yoon's Approval Rating 'Lowest Since Inauguration' at 22%... 'Employment Improvement Expectations' Only 7%

NBS Poll
Only 7% Respondents Expect Job Market to Improve
73% Say Kim Geon-hee Should Suspend External Activities... Majority Also in People Power Party

President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating for his administration has once again hit a new low since his inauguration. Public perception of the economic situation was also unfavorable.

According to the National Barometer Survey (NBS) conducted from the 21st to the 23rd by Embrain Public, K-STATS Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research (a nationwide telephone interview survey of 1,000 men and women aged 18 and older using mobile phones; the sampling error is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, with a response rate of 14.1%), President Yoon's approval rating dropped 2 percentage points from the regular survey two weeks ago to 22%. Based on the biweekly NBS data, the approval rating has declined for three consecutive surveys (six weeks) since the fourth week of September. The disapproval rating rose by 1 percentage point to 67%.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Looking at the data by age and region, there is no demographic group where positive evaluations outnumber negative ones. However, among the People Power Party supporters (277 respondents), positive evaluations stood at 62%, significantly higher than the 30% negative evaluations. Regarding political orientation, among conservatives, positive evaluations were 44% and negative evaluations were 47%, showing a similar level.

Regarding the direction of national policy, the response that the country is moving in the right direction fell by 1 percentage point to 24%, marking the lowest point since the inauguration.

Regarding the recent controversy over First Lady Kim Kun-hee's external activities, 73% agreed that these activities should be suspended, while 20% disagreed. The NBS reported, "Among supporters of the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party, 90% responded 'agree,' which was very high, and even among People Power Party supporters, 57% agreed, constituting a majority."

Perceptions of the economy were also negative. Only 7% responded that the employment market would improve, down 4 percentage points from 11% in the first week of May this year. The opinion that it would worsen rose to 56%, up 7 percentage points from the previous survey. Regarding inflation, 92% felt burdened (42% very burdened, 50% somewhat burdened).

Regarding party support rates, the Democratic Party's support rose 2 percentage points to 30%, and the People Power Party's support increased by 1 percentage point to 28%. The Innovation Party and Reform Party were at 8% and 3%, respectively.

For more detailed information about the survey, please refer to the Central Election Survey Deliberation Commission website.