"Stock Market Boom"? President Lee's Approval Rating Rises After 3 Weeks... Up 1.4%p to 54.5% [PolPol News]

Realmeter Public Opinion Poll
Democratic Party Leads People Power Party Beyond Margin of Error

President Lee Jaemyung’s approval rating for his administration has rebounded to the mid-50% range after three weeks of decline. Support for the Democratic Party of Korea has risen, while support for the People Power Party has fallen, widening the gap between the two parties beyond the margin of error.

According to a public opinion poll released by Realmeter on February 2 (commissioned by Energy Economy News, conducted between January 26 and 30 among 2,516 voters aged 18 and older nationwide via automated wireless phone response; margin of error ±2.0 percentage points, response rate 4.7%), President Lee’s approval rating for state affairs was 54.5%, up 1.4 percentage points from the previous week. The disapproval rating fell by 1.4 percentage points to 40.7%.

Realmeter explained, "As the KOSPI and KOSDAQ continue to hit record highs, the stock market boom has led to a significant increase in support from self-employed individuals and housewives. Additionally, the reinstatement of the heavy capital gains tax and the January 29 real estate measures have worked together to expand support throughout the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul and Gyeongin."

In the party support poll (commissioned by Energy Economy News, conducted between January 29 and 30 among 1,005 voters aged 18 and older nationwide via automated wireless phone response; margin of error ±3.1 percentage points, response rate 3.8%), the Democratic Party’s support rate rose by 1.2 percentage points from the previous week to 43.9%. Support for the People Power Party fell by 2.5 percentage points to 37.0%.

Realmeter stated, "The Democratic Party has continued its upward trend for two consecutive weeks, while the People Power Party has declined. The gap between the two parties has widened from 3.2 percentage points last week to 6.9 percentage points, moving beyond the margin of error for the first time in three weeks." Regarding the changes in support rates, Realmeter explained, "The expulsion of former People Power Party leader Han Donghoon and demands for leadership resignations from pro-Han factions have intensified internal strife, and factional conflict has been a major factor in the decline in support."

The Reform New Party recorded 3.2%, the Cho Kuk Innovation Party 3.1%, and the Progressive Party 1.3%.

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