President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating dipped to a new all-time low, weighed down by controversies surrounding minister nominees.
Of 1,000 respondents, 38 percent approved of Lee's job performance, according to an opinion poll conducted by Gallup Korea, released Friday. It was the first time Lee's popularity measured below 40 percent since his inauguration in June 2025.
Those who disapproved of Lee's performance came to 51 percent, which remained flat from the previous week when it hit the highest point yet recorded this term.
Lee's approval rating has been sliding since mid-May after hovering around the 60 percent mark for months. The rating fell to an all-time low for a third straight week.
The Lee administration has been under fire for his new Cabinet picks. Among those who disapproved of Lee's performance, 16 percent cited Lee's Cabinet nominations, up nearly twofold from the previous week.
Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won is under fire for alleged involvement in a stock manipulation case and abuse of power to solicit approval of a new drug.
Gender Equality Minister nominee Yong Hye-in, meanwhile, is drawing heavy fire from both sides of the aisle after announcing that she will keep her proportional representative seat even if she is appointed as minister.
The Gallup Korea opinion poll indicated that 43 percent found Kim unfit for the post as justice minister, nearly double the figure for those who found Kim fit. For Yong, 61 percent responded she is unsuitable for the position, while only 13 percent answered otherwise.
According to Gallup Korea, respondents who identified themselves as supporters of the ruling Democratic Party showed a tendency to answer that Kim was the right fit, while the same group tended to answer that Yong was unfit.
The lingering housing affordability crisis in the wake of the liberal administration's measures and taxation on homeowners and people’s economic challenges were also cited as reasons respondents disapproved of Lee's performance.
Meanwhile, the same poll suggested that 55 percent of respondents were against South Korea's deployment of military forces or assets to the Strait of Hormuz, while 32 percent said Seoul should carry out such a deployment. Regarding the conflict between the United States and Iran, 67 percent said they did not support either side. Those who supported the US amounted to 25 percent, while those leaning toward Iran came to 5 percent.
consnow@heraldcorp.com
