Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has fallen to 59 percent, as revealed by a recent survey conducted amid growing controversy over his decision to issue special pardons for political figures. The survey, which was released on Friday, indicates a significant shift in public opinion towards the president's actions.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Gallup Korea survey, which included 1,007 adults and was conducted from Tuesday to Thursday, showed a 5 percentage point drop in the positive assessment of Lee's performance compared to the previous poll conducted in mid-July. Currently, the negative assessment of Lee stands at 30 percent. Respondents highlighted their concerns over Lee's special amnesty for political figures and businesspeople, alongside his policies on welfare and livelihood support, as key reasons for their dissatisfaction.
The survey also revealed that the approval rating for the ruling Democratic Party (DP) experienced a 5 percentage point decline, now standing at 41 percent. Conversely, support for the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) rose by 3 percentage points to reach 22 percent. These shifts reflect a broader political response to President Lee's controversial decisions.
Within the same survey, public opinion was divided regarding former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's special pardon, with 43 percent of respondents in favor and 48 percent against. Notably, the survey disclosed that party affiliation significantly influenced opinions, with 76 percent of DP supporters endorsing the pardon, while a substantial 87 percent of PPP supporters opposed it.
The controversy intensified on Monday when President Lee issued special pardons to several politicians convicted of serious offenses including embezzlement. Among those pardoned was Cho Kuk, who had been convicted of academic fraud involving his daughter. Cho was released early Friday after serving eight months of his two-year sentence, adding fuel to the ongoing debate.
The survey results come with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level, providing a statistically significant insight into current public sentiment.