South Korean President Lee calls for war-like resolve against violent crime

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for extraordinary measures to combat violent crime, urging authorities to respond “with the resolve of declaring war” on such offenses. The call follows a series of violent incidents, including a stabbing rampage at a commercial complex in Incheon’s Guwol-dong that left eight people injured. Lee emphasized the need for targeted measures to protect women and vulnerable populations from both indiscriminate attacks and relationship-based crimes involving family or intimate partners. He proposed the establishment of an interagency task force to address these security gaps.

Simultaneously, recent polling data suggests a stabilization in Lee’s approval ratings. Following a period of decline, the Korea Society Opinion Institute reported a positive job approval rating of 38.5% in late September, up from 35.9% two weeks prior. Other surveys, such as the National Barometer Survey, showed a positive rating of 43%. Analysts suggest this plateau may be due to a recent posture of humility from the President and the withdrawal of a justice minister nominee, which may have helped subside public anger.