Lee's approval rating edges up above 60% – The Korea Herald
National Lee's approval rating edges up above 60%
Published : May 18, 2026 – 09:39:29
Link copied!
President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating climbed back above 60 percent for the first time in three weeks, driven by positive assessment of his livelihood-related policies and a strong stock rally, a poll showed Monday.
According to the survey, commissioned by EKN newspaper and conducted by Realmeter on 2,506 respondents aged 18 and older from Monday through Friday, the positive assessment of Lee’s job performance gained 0.8 percentage point from a week earlier to 60.5 percent.
Negative assessment fell 0.6 percentage point to 35.1 percent over the cited period, while 4.4 percent said they were unsure.
Realmeter said the president’s efforts on livelihood-related issues, including the benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index surpassing the 8,000 mark, and his visit to the southeastern regions of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province to inspect the site for a planned civilian-military airport, helped drive up his approval rating.
The pollster said a set of negative factors partly offset the positive sentiment, including the controversy surrounding remarks by presidential policy chief Kim Yong-beom on profit sharing of tech companies, as well as concerns over a possible strike at Samsung Electronics following the breakdown of wage negotiations.
On Tuesday, Kim floated the idea of introducing “public dividends” funded by excess tax revenues generated from the semiconductor boom driven by artificial intelligence, prompting a strong backlash from the opposition block and reportedly causing the benchmark stock index to plunge.
The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percent at a 95 percent confidence level.
In a separate survey conducted by the same pollster, support for the ruling Democratic Party fell 2.9 percentage points from a week earlier to 45.8 percent, while support for the main opposition People Power Party rose 2.6 percentage points to 33.5 percent.
The poll, conducted on 1,003 individuals aged 18 and over on Thursday and Friday, had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, with a confidence level of 95 percent. (Yonhap)
[Breaking] Samsung wins partial injunction against unions ahead of looming strike
A South Korean court on Monday partially granted Samsung Electronics’ request for an injunction against labor actions planned by its unions, imposing legal limits on a looming general strike.
Trump tells Lee he will play ‘necessary role’ on N. Korea: Cheong Wa Dae
Teachers at unapproved international schools could face penalties, Justice Ministry says
'Perfect Crown' apologizes for inaccurate portrayal of royal rituals
Free Seoul Land outing offered to 40 foreign residents
Gangdong center offers acupuncture, cupping session at no cost
Side Quests
Got K-pop moves? This Seoul dance contest could be for you
Side Quests
K-drama Survival Guide
Your passport to decoding K-drama’s hidden cues
Herald Interview
A series of in-depth interviews.
Celeb Reads
The books celebrities love — and the ones that might become your next read
AtoZ into Korean Mind
Decoding the Korean psyche through keywords
'Think twice before posing with hand signs': Experts warn of fingerprint theft
As Korea takes aim at unlicensed international schools, what will happen to their teachers?
Gangnam offers online Korean classes for foreign residents
Gwangju stabbing suspect identified as Jang Yoon-gi, 23
In Korea, helicopter parenting no longer ends at graduation
'Perfect Crown' apologizes for inaccurate portrayal of royal rituals
In Korea, helicopter parenting no longer ends at graduation
[Exclusive] Teachers at unapproved international schools could face penalties, Justice Ministry says
N. Korean women’s soccer club visits South for AFC match
Samsung’s strike countdown enters final stage
Address : Huam-ro 4-gil 10, Yongsan-gu,Seoul, Korea Tel : +82-2-727-0114 Online newspaper registration No : Seoul 아03711
Date of registration : 2015.04.28 Publisher. Editor : Choi Jin-Young Juvenile Protection Manager : Choi He-suk
The Korea Herald by Herald Corporation. Copyright Herald Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
