Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has decreased by three percentage points, reaching 64 percent this week, largely due to concerns over what some perceive as "excessive" welfare policies.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a survey conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday, involving 1,002 participants aged 18 and older, revealed that 64 percent of respondents viewed President Lee's performance favorably. The survey highlighted diplomacy and economic policy as the primary reasons for positive evaluations, each accounting for 17 percent of the favorable opinions.

Conversely, negative perceptions of President Lee's performance increased by one percentage point to 26 percent, with 10 percent of respondents not expressing an opinion. Among those with negative views, 15 percent attributed their stance to concerns about "excessive welfare and subsidies." Other reasons for disapproval included economic challenges, livelihood issues, and high foreign exchange rates, each cited by 13 percent of respondents.

Gallup Korea noted that part of the decline in approval could be linked to the government's welfare initiatives and the distribution of fuel subsidies intended to mitigate rising gasoline prices due to the Middle East crisis. Critics suggest that such measures could potentially harm the country's fiscal health.

Regionally, President Lee's approval rating remained above 50 percent in all major cities and provinces. Gwangju and Jeolla Province reported the highest support at 89 percent, followed by Incheon and Gyeonggi Province at 66 percent, and Seoul at 63 percent.

In political party dynamics, the ruling Democratic Party's approval rating fell to 46 percent from the previous week's 48 percent. Meanwhile, support for the main opposition People Power Party increased by one percentage point, reaching 21 percent. The survey's margin of error was plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, with a 95 percent confidence level.