Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating dropped to 59 percent, a survey showed Friday, amid controversy over his first round of special pardons for political figures.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Gallup Korea survey of 1,007 adults conducted from Tuesday to Thursday revealed that the positive assessment of Lee's performance fell 5 percentage points from the previous poll conducted in mid-July. Meanwhile, the negative assessment of Lee stood at 30 percent. Respondents cited Lee's special amnesty for political figures and businesspeople, as well as his excessive welfare and livelihood support, as reasons for their negative assessment.

The approval rating for the ruling Democratic Party also saw a decline, falling 5 percentage points to 41 percent. In contrast, support for the main opposition People Power Party increased by 3 percentage points, reaching 22 percent. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

On Monday, Lee granted special pardons to several politicians convicted of embezzlement and other serious offenses. Notably, former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, convicted of academic fraud involving his daughter, was among those who received a pardon.