Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has experienced a minor dip, reaching 59.1 percent, as revealed by a recent survey. The slight decline is attributed to negative public sentiment following the tragic collapse of the Seosomun Overpass in central Seoul last week.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the poll, which was commissioned by EKN newspaper and conducted by Realmeter, indicated a 0.2 percentage point decrease in the positive assessment of Lee's job performance compared to the previous week. The survey gathered responses from 2,008 individuals aged 18 and older, conducted from Tuesday through Friday.

Negative sentiment towards President Lee rose by 0.7 percentage points, reaching 36.8 percent. Previously, Lee's approval rating had been at 60.5 percent in the second week of May, dropping to 59.3 percent the following week, and now standing at 59.1 percent in the latest poll.

Realmeter noted that the Seosomun Overpass collapse, which occurred during an on-site safety inspection while it was being demolished, resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to three others. This incident overshadowed positive economic developments, such as the Korea Composite Stock Price Index reaching a record high.

Additionally, Realmeter pointed out that former President Park Geun-hye's active support for the main opposition People Power Party's campaign for the June 3 local elections rallied conservative voters, contributing to the slight decline in Lee's approval rating.

The survey reported a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. A nationwide blackout period banning the publication of election-related polls, including party approval ratings, commenced on Thursday.