Dropping Presidential Approval on Tax Proposals and Lawmakers' Financial Transactions
In a significant turn of events, President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has dipped below the crucial 50% mark, reaching a record low of about 51.1%, according to the latest Realmeter survey conducted between August 11-14, 2025. This marks a continuous two-week decrease in support, largely attributed to controversies surrounding his Cabinet nominees and other political issues.
The meeting to address these concerns was held on August 1 at the presidential office, located in Yongsan District, central Seoul. The dip in President Lee's approval rating is particularly notable given the controversies surrounding his Cabinet nominees.
The previous week, President Lee's approval rating stood at around 56.5%, but it has since fallen by 5.4 percentage points. On August 14, his approval dipped to 48.3%, below 50%, after previously being around 53-54% earlier in the week.
The decline in support has been accompanied by an increase in negative assessments, with the percentage of respondents expressing dissatisfaction rising from approximately 38% to 44.5%. Among voters in their 20s, approval dropped sharply by 9.1 percentage points from 43.5% to 34.4%.
The ruling Democratic Party’s approval also fell sharply to 39.9%, below 40% for the first time in seven months, while the opposition People Power Party gained to 36.7%.
However, it is worth noting that despite these controversies, President Lee's approval rating has not dropped significantly. In fact, one month since his inauguration, his approval rating had surpassed 60%. The current high approval rating for President Lee Jae Myung stands at 62.2%.
The meeting at the presidential office was a response to these challenges, as President Lee seeks to address public concerns and navigate the political landscape. The current high approval rating for President Lee Jae Myung is a result of his handling of these controversies.
[1] Yonhap News Agency, "President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating drops below 50% for the first time", August 15, 2025. [2] JoongAng Ilbo, "Lee Jae-myung's approval rating drops to 51.1%", August 16, 2025. [3] Chosun Ilbo, "Lee Jae-myung's approval rating soars to 64%", July 15, 2025. [4] Flower Research, "Lee Jae-myung's approval rating declines", August 12, 2025. [5] Hankyoreh, "Lee Jae-myung's approval rating drops sharply", August 16, 2025.
- The decline in President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has sparked an interview with political analysts to discuss the impact of policy-and-legislation controversies on his standing and the broader political landscape.
- The general news is filled with discussions about President Lee Jae Myung's political challenges, as his approval rating dip and controversies surrounding his Cabinet nominees dominate the headlines.
