Seoul: President Yoon Suk Yeol’s approval rating has plunged to a mere 19 percent, marking the lowest point since he assumed office in May 2022, as revealed by a poll released on Friday. The declining ratings reflect widespread public dissatisfaction with his management of political controversies.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Gallup Korea survey indicates that positive assessments of Yoon’s performance fell by one percentage point from the previous week, while negative assessments soared to an unprecedented 72 percent, increasing by two percentage points. The poll respondents cited his inaction on allegations involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee, economic challenges such as weak domestic demand, and a lack of communication with the public as primary factors for the poor ratings.
The release of the new poll results prompted major media outlets to express dismay and question Yoon’s ability to manage critical national issues for the remainder of his term. Historical data shows that it is uncommon for presi
dential approval ratings to dip below the 20 percent threshold so early into a president’s five-year term. Yoon’s predecessors generally maintained higher ratings, with Roh Moo-hyun at 34 percent, Lee Myung-bak at 49 percent, Park Geun-hye at 36 percent, and Moon Jae-in at 45 percent by the midpoint of their terms. Former President Roh Tae-woo was an exception, with his support dropping to 18 percent midway through his term.
Yoon’s declining approval rating signifies a lack of solid public backing during a period of heightened challenges, including national security, economic instability, and foreign relations issues. Concerns have mounted over reports of North Korea’s possible involvement in the Ukraine conflict to support Russia, although no definitive confirmation has been made.
In response to North Korea’s recent launch of the new Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the East Sea, South Korea conducted joint air drills with the United States and Japan. These trilateral exercises wer
e intended as a show of force amid escalating tensions. Despite these provocations, there has been little indication of any breakthrough from Yoon’s administration to ease tensions.
Economically, Korea faces a mixed scenario. Although exports have risen for 13 consecutive months and a trade surplus has persisted for 17 months, the gross domestic product has been sluggish, retreating in the second quarter and remaining stagnant in the third. With the end of the year approaching, Korea is unlikely to meet the government’s growth projection of 2.6 percent, compounded by declining production and consumption.
Yoon must also contend with a waning support base. The Gallup poll revealed a significant drop in approval ratings within traditional strongholds, with the Busan-South Gyeongsang Province region falling to 22 percent and the Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province region dropping to 18 percent, below the national average of 19 percent.
Facing increasing pressure from ongoing political scandals involving him and hi
s wife, President Yoon must navigate these formidable challenges to improve his approval ratings and address the country’s pressing issues.