South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (R) shakes hands with Han Byung-do (3-L), acting leader of the ruling Democratic Party, after arriving at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, South Korea, 03 August 2026, wrapping up an 11-day overseas tour that included meetings with the heads of leading US tech firms and summits with the presidents of three South American nations. Photo by YONHAP / EPA
Aug. 3 (Asia Today) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung returned Monday from a tour of the United States, South America and Germany facing growing public frustration over housing and stock market instability.
Lee's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since he took office, raising questions about whether his administration can regain momentum in the second half of the year.
A Realmeter survey commissioned by Energy Economic News found that 45.9% of respondents approved of Lee's performance, down 0.4 percentage point from the previous week.
The rating declined for a third consecutive week.
