Lee Jae-myung approval falls to 35.2% in Realmeter poll
In short
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's job approval fell 2.2 percentage points to 35.2% in a Realmeter survey released October 12, marking a second consecutive weekly decline. A separate party-support survey put the People Power Party at 41.3%, ahead of the Democratic Party within the reported margin of error; outlets differed on the Democratic figure.
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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating declined for a second week, reaching 35.2% in a Realmeter poll commissioned by Asia Economy and released October 12. Approval fell 2.2 percentage points from the previous week. The survey recorded disapproval of 61.4%, with 3.4% of respondents saying they did not know how to assess his performance. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
A separate party-support poll showed the People Power Party rising 2.9 percentage points to 41.3%, while Democratic Party support fell 7.0 points. Yonhap, Seoul Economic Daily and Korea Economic Daily reported the Democratic figure as 35.5%; Kukmin Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo gave 35.7%. The outlets described the People Power Party's lead as within the margin of error. Reports also differed on the weekly rise in presidential disapproval: Yonhap and Newsis gave 1.6 points, while Chosun Ilbo reported 0.6 points. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 8 , 10 , 11 , 16 ]
The presidential survey was conducted October 6–8 among 1,504 adults aged 18 or older nationwide. Its margin of error was ±2.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, with a 2.8% response rate. The party poll surveyed 1,004 adults October 7–8, with a margin of error of ±3.1 points at the same confidence level and a 2.6% response rate. Both used automated responses through mobile phones. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
Realmeter attributed the president's decline to controversy over judicial independence involving the chief justice, political disputes over a landmine explosion in the demilitarized zone and rising rental and apartment prices in the capital region. It said those issues had become a focus of parliamentary audits. The poll also recorded 11.0% of respondents as supporting no party, according to Yonhap. [ 8 ]
Why it matters
The party poll showed a reversal in the two main parties' ranking while their gap remained within the reported margin of error. Realmeter linked the president's decline to disputes over judicial independence, security and housing costs during parliamentary audits.
Key facts
- Lee's job approval was 35.2%, down 2.2 percentage points from the previous week. [ 1 , 3 , 8 , 11 ]
- Disapproval was 61.4%, while 3.4% answered that they did not know. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
- The presidential survey covered 1,504 adults nationwide on October 6–8, with a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points at 95% confidence. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
- The party survey covered 1,004 adults on October 7–8 and had a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at 95% confidence. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
- People Power Party support rose 2.9 percentage points to 41.3%; the Democratic Party's support fell 7.0 points, with outlets reporting either 35.5% or 35.7%. [ 1 , 3 , 8 , 16 ]
- Both surveys used automated mobile-phone responses; response rates were 2.8% for presidential approval and 2.6% for party support. [ 1 , 3 , 8 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Lee's approval fell 2.2 percentage points to 35.2%, marking a second consecutive weekly decline. [ 1 , 3 , 8 , 11 ]
- The survey recorded presidential disapproval of 61.4%. [ 1 , 3 , 8 , 10 ]
- People Power Party support reached 41.3%, up 2.9 percentage points. [ 1 , 3 , 8 , 16 ]
- The party poll put the People Power Party ahead of the Democratic Party within the reported margin of error. [ 1 , 3 , 5 , 8 , 9 ]
Still unclear
- Outlets give different Democratic Party support figures. Yonhap, Seoul Economic Daily and Korea Economic Daily report 35.5%; Kukmin Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo report 35.7%.
- Reports differ on the weekly increase in presidential disapproval. Yonhap and Newsis report a rise of 1.6 percentage points; Chosun Ilbo reports 0.6 points, while all give a level of 61.4%.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Kukmin Ilbo reported presidential approval of 35.2% and a People Power Party lead within the margin of error. [ 1 ]
- Yonhap reported Democratic Party support at 35.5%, alongside the survey sample sizes and margins of error. [ 8 ]
- Hankook Ilbo reported Democratic Party support at 35.7%, differing from Yonhap's figure. [ 16 ]