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Lee Jae Myung's Approval Dips to 66% Amid Economic, Diplomatic Focus

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has slightly decreased to 66%, marking the first dip after holding steady at a high of 67% for two weeks. The poll shows the economy and people's livelihoods are the most cited reasons for both positive and negative evaluations of his performance. Concurrently, President Lee is set to participate in a high-level virtual meeting led by France and Britain concerning freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting aims to solidify international solidarity on ensuring safe passage through the crucial global shipping route.

Key Points: S. Korea President Lee's Approval Rating Dips Slightly to 66%

  • Approval dips 1 point to 66%
  • Negative assessment rises to 26%
  • Economy cited as top reason for both praise and criticism
  • Lee to attend key international talks on Strait of Hormuz
3 min read

South Korean President Lee's approval rating edges down to 66 per cent

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating edges down to 66% in latest poll, with economy and diplomacy cited as key factors for both support and criticism.

"As the freedom and security of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz serve the interests of all parties... - Senior Official"

Seoul, April 17

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating inched down slightly for the first time in three weeks to 66 per cent, a poll showed Friday.

The survey by Gallup Korea, conducted Tuesday through Thursday on 1,000 respondents aged 18 and over, showed that the positive assessment of Lee's overall performance fell 1 percentage point from the previous week, Yonhap News Agency reported.

In the previous survey, Lee's approval rating stood at 67 per cent for the second consecutive week, marking the highest level since taking office.

The negative assessment rose 2 percentage points to 26 per cent, while 8 per cent were undecided.

Lee's handling of the economy and people's livelihoods was cited most frequently as the reason for positive evaluation at 17 per cent, followed by diplomacy at 14 per cent and competence at 11 per cent.

Among the negative responses, 17 per cent pointed to concerns over the economy and the high exchange rate, followed by diplomacy at 12 per cent and excessive welfare policies at 9 per cent.

The approval rating for the ruling Democratic Party remained unchanged at 48 per cent, maintaining its highest level since the current administration took office for the third straight week.

Support for the main opposition People Power Party fell 1 percentage point to 19 per cent.

The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 per cent confidence level.

On Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae said South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend talks led by Britain and France this week over freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The virtual gathering, to be hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer late Friday (Seoul time), aims to ensure free and safe passage through the crucial waterway.

"As the freedom and security of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz serve the interests of all parties and are vital to our national interests, we are continuing efforts to work in solidarity with countries that share similar positions," a senior official told reporters.

Lee is preparing a message addressing energy supply chains, Seoul's stance on the Middle East situation, and the importance of international solidarity to ensure free passage through the crucial shipping route, the official said.

The leader-level meeting follows earlier consultations, including a France-led video conference of top military officials on March 26 and a Britain-led ministerial meeting on April 2, both of which South Korea attended.

The United States is not expected to attend the meeting, while China's and Japan's participation has yet to be confirmed, the official said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Rohit P
66% is still a very strong number! Wish our leaders had such consistent approval. The concerns about "excessive welfare policies" as a negative point is telling. There's always a debate about the right balance between welfare and fiscal responsibility, whether in Seoul or Delhi.
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David E
As someone following global politics, it's smart of President Lee to engage on the Hormuz issue. Energy security is a global concern. The absence of the US from the talks is notable. South Korea seems to be carving a more independent diplomatic path, which is a trend we see in many middle powers now.
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Ananya R
The poll shows people care most about the economy and livelihoods everywhere. 17% positive for that, but also 17% negative citing economic concerns. It's the same story here – managing inflation and creating jobs is what makes or breaks a government's popularity. 🤔
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Suresh O
A respectful criticism: The article just reports the numbers without much context on *why* the rating dipped. Was there a specific policy announcement or event? A 1% change within the margin of error might not even be statistically significant. Media should provide more analysis, not just data.
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Kavya N
South Korea's ruling party at 48% support is quite dominant. The opposition seems very weak in comparison. It's a reminder that stable governance often needs a strong but responsible opposition to keep the ruling party in check. Hope he uses his high ratings to make tough, long-term decisions for the economy.

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