South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating has fallen to 53% [1], matching the lowest level recorded immediately after his inauguration.
The decline suggests a growing gap between the administration's policy goals and public sentiment, particularly regarding the cost of living and housing.
The survey, conducted from July 27 to July 29, 2024, polled 1,000 adults nationwide [1]. The positive evaluation of the president decreased by two percentage points from the previous poll [1]. Meanwhile, negative evaluations rose by three percentage points to reach 37% [1]. This represents a nine percentage point increase in negative sentiment compared to a poll conducted in January 2024 [1].
Public dissatisfaction is most pronounced regarding the government's real-estate policy. According to the survey, 56% of respondents view the administration's handling of real estate as negative [1]. Only 33% of those polled gave a positive assessment of the housing policy [1].
The poll also measured the suitability of leadership candidates for the Democratic Party. Jeong Cheong-rae led with a suitability rating of 21% [1], followed by Kim Min-seok at 19% [1], and Song Young-gil at 6% [1]. A majority of respondents, 54%, remained undecided or neutral regarding these candidates [1].
“President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating has fallen to 53%”
The return of President Lee's approval rating to his inauguration-era low indicates that the 'honeymoon period' of his presidency has been replaced by systemic frustration over domestic economic issues. The significant disparity between positive and negative views on real-estate policy suggests that housing remains a primary political liability for the administration, potentially limiting its legislative momentum and impacting the popularity of the Democratic Party's leadership.
