President Lee's Approval Rating Drops to 57.1% After Six Weeks, Citing "Heightened Social Conflict"

Down 1.1 Percentage Points from Previous Survey
Negative Assessment Rises to 38.2%, Up 1.0 Percentage Point
Largest Decline Recorded in Seoul (49.9%)

According to a public opinion poll released on March 2, President Lee Jaemyung's approval rating for his administration stood at 57.1%, halting its upward trend after six weeks and showing a slight decline.

President Lee Jae-myung is delivering a commemorative address at the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement ceremony held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 1st. Photo by Cheong Wa Dae Press Photographers Group

In a survey conducted by Realmeter at the request of the Energy Economy Newspaper from February 23 to 27 targeting 2,507 people nationwide aged 18 and over, 57.1% of respondents gave a positive assessment of President Lee's administration, a decrease of 1.1 percentage points from the previous survey. In contrast, the negative assessment rose by 1.0 percentage point to 38.2%. The proportion of respondents who answered "Don't know" was 4.7%.

Realmeter analyzed, "Despite favorable economic indicators such as finance and exports, the approval rating dipped slightly after six weeks as issues like regional equity concerns during the administrative integration process and the public debate over lowering the age of criminal responsibility have highlighted social conflict." The agency also explained the decline in Seoul and the Yeongnam region by stating, "A combination of feelings of regional alienation and anxiety over asset values due to a shift in real estate prices appears to have played a role."

Looking at the positive response rates by region, Seoul recorded the largest drop compared to the previous week at 49.9%, down 6.6 percentage points. Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam fell by 2.2 percentage points to 52.5%, while Daegu and Gyeongbuk declined by 1.0 percentage point to 45.8%. Daejeon, Sejong, and Chungcheong rose by 3.2 percentage points to 62.3%, and Gwangju and Jeolla increased by 2.1 percentage points to 79.8%.

By age group, those in their 40s experienced the largest decline, falling by 4.6 percentage points to 70.4%. The approval rates also dropped for people in their 50s (68.6%), 60s (58.8%), and those aged 70 and above (51.5%) compared to the previous week. Conversely, those in their 20s (40.3%) and 30s (47.5%) saw increases of 4.8 and 0.2 percentage points, respectively.

By ideological orientation, support among moderates rose by 4.5 percentage points from the previous week to 61.6%. Support among progressives dropped by 3.2 percentage points to 82.1%, and among conservatives, it declined by 2.3 percentage points to 28.9%.

In a separate party support survey conducted nationwide among 1,002 people aged 18 and above from February 26 to 27, the Democratic Party of Korea registered a support rate of 47.1%, while the People Power Party recorded 33.8%. The Democratic Party's support dropped by 1.5 percentage points compared to the previous week, whereas the People Power Party rose by 1.2 percentage points.

Realmeter analyzed the factors behind the Democratic Party's decline, stating, "A combination of the controversy over the party's dominance due to the forced passage of judicial reform legislation, the sense of alienation in Chungnam, Daejeon, and Yeongnam regions triggered by prioritizing administrative integration in Gwangju and Jeonnam, and the exit of metropolitan and elderly voters due to falling real estate prices, appears to have contributed."

Regarding the People Power Party, Realmeter stated, "The rebound in support can be attributed to the consolidation of the conservative base in response to the filibuster against the ruling party, as well as the party's efforts to capitalize on backlash in excluded regions such as Chungnam, Daejeon, Daegu, and Gyeongbuk by opposing what was seen as a rushed integration process."

The Cho Kuk Innovation Party recorded 3.3%, the Reform Party 2.2%, and the Progressive Party 1.1%. The proportion of respondents with no party affiliation stood at 10.0%. Both surveys were conducted using wireless automated response methods.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.