President Lee Jae Myung enters a meeting with senior advisers at the Blue House on Aug. 13, 2026. (pool photo)
More Koreans disapprove of President Lee Jae Myung than approve of him for the first time since he took office last year, according to a poll released Friday. A Gallup Korea survey of 1,000 Koreans aged 18 and over found that 44% of respondents approved of Lee’s performance as president, while 46% disapproved. Lee’s approval rating fell 7 percentage points from 51% in the previous poll, conducted July 21-23, marking its lowest level since he took office. His disapproval rating rose 8 points from 38%, overtaking approval for the first time.Among respondents who did not identify with a political party, 55% disapproved of Lee’s performance, compared with 24% who approved. Among self-described moderates, the ratings were nearly evenly split, with 43% approving and 45% disapproving.Real estate policy was the most frequently cited reason for disapproval, at 30%, followed by the economy and people’s livelihoods at 13%, and a general assessment that he was “doing a poor job” at 7%.Among those who approved of Lee’s performance, foreign policy was the leading reason at 19%, followed by the economy and people’s livelihoods at 15%, and a general assessment that he was “doing a good job” at 8%.The poll also found that the Democratic Party had 41% support, compared with 25% for the People Power Party. The Reform Party stood at 3%, the Rebuilding Korea Party at 2%, while the Progressive Party and other parties or organizations each recorded 1%. Twenty-eight percent of respondents said they did not support any political party.The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level and was conducted from Aug. 11 to 13, through telephone interviews with surveyors.More details are available on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.By Kim Hae-jeong, staff reporterPlease direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
