[PollPoll News] President Lee's Initial Approval Rating at 64%... 4th Highest Since 1987

Gallup's First Approval Rating Survey After President's Inauguration
Democratic Party 43% vs People Power Party 23%, 20-Point Gap
Kim Min Seok's Suitability as Prime Minister: 43% vs 31%

President Lee Jae Myung's initial job approval rating ranked as the fourth highest among the nine presidents since the 1987 constitutional amendment.

According to a poll released on the 27th by Gallup Korea (conducted from the 24th to the 26th through mobile phone interviews with 1,004 adults aged 18 or older nationwide, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, and a response rate of 13.4%), 64% of respondents said that President Lee is "doing well" in his job performance. The disapproval rating stood at 21%. Among those with centrist tendencies, 69% gave a positive evaluation, while 92% of progressives also responded positively. Notably, even among conservatives, the positive evaluation rate was 37%.

President Lee Jae Myung is leaving the main building after delivering the supplementary budget address at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 26th. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

The reasons cited for positive evaluations included "economy and people's livelihoods" (14%), "drive, execution, and speed" (13%), "communication" and "overall good performance" (8% each), and "appointments" (6%). Reasons for negative evaluations included "excessive welfare and livelihood support funds" and "diplomacy and non-participation in NATO" (20% each), "issues of morality and lack of qualifications" (12%), and "appointments" (10%).

President Lee's initial job approval rating was higher than that of former President Yoon Suk Yeol (52%) and former President Park Geun Hye (44%). However, it was lower than that of former President Moon Jae In (84%) and former Presidents Kim Young Sam and Kim Dae Jung (71%).

In terms of party support, the Democratic Party of Korea's approval rating was 43%, down 3 percentage points from the previous poll two weeks ago. The People Power Party's approval rating rose by 2 percentage points to 23%.

Regarding the suitability of Kim Min Seok as Prime Minister nominee, 43% responded that he is suitable, while 31% said he is not suitable. Among People Power Party supporters and those with conservative tendencies, the view that Kim Min Seok is unsuitable as Prime Minister was dominant. However, in most other respondent groups, the opinion that he is suitable was more prevalent.

For more details on the poll, please refer to the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.