This photo shows President Yoon Suk Yeol during the joint press conference with Poland's President Andrzej Duda held Thursday at Yoon's office. (Yonhap)
President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating fell 2 percentage points to 20 percent in the fourth week of October, matching the record-low previously recorded in the second week of September, according to a weekly estimate by Gallup Korea on Friday.
Additionally, the number of South Koreans who disapproved of the job Yoon was doing hit 70 percent -- an all-time high.
The pollster's survey conducted Tuesday to Thursday on 1,001 respondents indicated that issues surrounding Yoon's wife Kim Keon Hee -- including her alleged influence-peddling on state affairs and revelations of a private conversation between Kim and Yoon's former political consultant -- were among the reasons behind their disapproval of Yoon.
Those who disapproved of Yoon also pointed to soaring consumer prices and his lack of communication with the public.
Meanwhile, Yoon's efforts in foreign affairs, defense and national security contributed to his popularity.
When asked about the low approval rating, an official of the presidential office said on condition of anonymity that the Yoon administration is "paying close attention to people's opinions as it sees itself as being in a grave situation," adding that it would "do its best to make up for the shortcomings." The presidential office, however, did not specify which shortcomings it was experiencing.
According to the pollster's estimate, Yoon's popularity has remained below 30 percent since the April general election loss, which gave the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea majority control of the National Assembly.
Yoon's popularity has hovered at the low-to-mid 20 percent range since the fifth week of August.
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