Kim Min-seok seeks to reverse Democratic Party approval decline

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is facing challenges following a decline in party approval ratings. Despite a campaign promise to increase support by 10 percentage points within 100 days of taking office, recent polling shows the party at its lowest level since the inauguration of the Lee Jae-myung administration.

According to Gallup Korea, the party's support dropped to 35%, while a KSOI poll indicated the opposition People Power Party had briefly overtaken the Democratic Party within the margin of error. Analysts attribute this decline to internal divisions within the ruling party, particularly following the national convention and ongoing debates regarding prosecutorial reform.

In response, Kim has shifted his political strategy. He has significantly reduced the length of his official messages and is moving away from aggressive scheduling toward more frequent field visits and direct communication with citizens. His focus is expected to shift toward listening to public sentiment and preparing for the upcoming November budget negotiations.