Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since he took office, a poll showed Friday, amid growing criticism over his recent Cabinet reshuffle. According to Yonhap News Agency, a Gallup Korea survey conducted from Tuesday through Thursday with 1,000 participants aged 18 and older, revealed that 38 percent positively assessed Lee's handling of state affairs. This marked a 2 percentage point decrease from the previous week, while 51 percent gave a negative assessment.
The approval rating recorded the lowest level in a Gallup poll since Lee assumed office in June last year. Among those who negatively assessed Lee's performance, 24 percent cited his real estate policies as a concern. Personnel appointments followed at 16 percent, and economic and livelihood issues were noted by 10 percent of respondents.
The pollster suggested that the increase in respondents citing personnel appointments reflects the controversy surrounding Lee's recent Cabinet picks ahead of their confirmation hearings. Notably, Lee's nomination of Rep. Kim Seung-won as justice minister has drawn significant scrutiny, with 43 percent of respondents considering him unfit for the role, compared to 22 percent who believe he is suitable.
For Rep. Yong Hye-in of the minor Basic Income Party, who has been nominated as the new minister of gender equality, 61 percent expressed a negative response, while only 13 percent felt she was fit for the position. Kim is facing allegations of illegally lobbying authorities over a COVID-19 treatment approval in 2021, and Yong has been criticized for retaining her proportional representation seat in the National Assembly post-appointment, along with alleged nepotism and managing her one-lawmaker party solely on government funding.
Support for the ruling Democratic Party remained unchanged from the previous week at 38 percent, while the main opposition People Power Party saw a 1 percentage point decline to 29 percent. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.