[Polpol News] President Lee Jaemyung's Approval Rating at 62% Six Months into Term... Third Highest in History

Gallup Poll Results
Policy Ratings Improve Except for Real Estate (32%→24%)
Next Presidential Prospects: Cho Kuk 8%, Kim Minseok 7%, Han Donghoon and Jang Donghyuk 4%

President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating for his handling of state affairs has slightly increased to the low 60% range, six months into his term. This is the third highest approval rating among all presidents in history.

According to a public opinion poll released by Gallup on December 5 (conducted between December 2 and 4 via wireless phone interviews with 1,000 men and women aged 18 and over nationwide, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level and a response rate of 11.8%), President Lee's approval rating rose by 2 percentage points from last week to 62%. The disapproval rating dropped by 2 percentage points from last week to 29%.

Among those who gave a positive evaluation (625 respondents), the main reasons cited were diplomacy (32%) and the economy and people's livelihoods (14%). Notably, responses related to the economy and people's livelihoods increased by 3 percentage points. Among those who gave a negative evaluation (294 respondents), the main reasons were the economy and people's livelihoods (18%), and issues related to morality and the president's avoidance of trial (11%).

President Lee Jae-myung is having his first phone call since taking office with President Nicolae Daniel Dan of Romania at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding the six-month evaluation since inauguration, President Lee recorded the third highest approval rating since the 1987 constitutional amendment. Among all presidents, only former President Kim Young-sam (84%) and former President Moon Jae-in (74%) had higher ratings. For reference, former President Park Geun-hye recorded 59%, former President Kim Dae-jung 56%, former President Roh Tae-woo 53%, former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Yoon Suk-yeol each 30%, and former President Lee Myung-bak 24%.

An evaluation survey was also conducted on policies implemented during the six months since the current administration took office. Compared to the policy evaluations at the 100-day mark of the Lee Jae-myung administration in September this year, overall assessments have improved except for real estate policy, which worsened. In terms of economic policy, approval rose from 43% in September to 48%, North Korea policy from 35% to 44%, foreign policy from 47% to 63%, welfare policy from 52% to 57%, public official appointments from 34% to 36%, and labor policy remained at 43%. However, approval for real estate policy fell from 32% to 24%.

Regarding party support, the Democratic Party of Korea's approval rating rose by 1 percentage point from last week to 43%, while the People Power Party remained at 24%. The Cho Kuk Innovation Party recorded 3%, and the Reform New Party recorded 2%.

In the survey asking about future political leaders for the next presidency, Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, received 8%, Prime Minister Kim Minseok 7%, former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon and current People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk each 4%. Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, and Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party, each received 3%, while Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon received 2%.

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