President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating falls to 35.2%

President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating has declined for two consecutive weeks, falling to 35.2 percent according to a Realmeter poll conducted from October 6 to 8. Negative assessments of his performance rose to 61.4 percent.

Analysts attribute the decline to several factors, including controversies regarding judicial independence involving Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-de, security disputes following mine explosions in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and rising housing and rental prices in the Seoul metropolitan area.

In terms of party support, the Democratic Party saw a significant 7.0 percentage point drop to 35.5 percent. This allowed the main opposition People Power Party to reclaim the lead with 41.3 percent support, reversing the previous week’s standings. While the gap between the two major parties remains within the margin of error, the shift marks a notable change in political momentum.