Politics · South Korea · 3 hrs ago
Lee’s approval rises to 34.8% after 10 weeks of decline
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s approval rose to 34.8%, up 1 percentage point in a Realmeter poll conducted from October 14 to 18.
His disapproval rating was 63.4%, more than 28 points higher than his approval rating.
The poll’s results followed a televised news conference in which Lee addressed major political issues and said he wanted to improve how his government was run.
Support among people in their 20s rose by 5.4 points to 24%, the biggest increase among age groups.
The Democratic Party led the People Power Party by 40.2% to 38.5% in a separate poll conducted on October 17 and 18, but the gap was within the poll’s margin of error.
The results show a small rise in Lee’s approval and a close contest between the two main parties, rather than a clear shift in public opinion.
Lee Jae-myung’s job approval rose 1.0 percentage point to 34.8%, ending a 10-week decline, according to a Realmeter poll.
The poll found that 63.4% disapproved of his job performance, 28.6 points above the approval rating.
Approval among people in their 20s rose 5.4 points to 24.0%, the largest increase among age groups.
Realmeter said Lee’s comments on major political issues at a public press conference helped turn the decline into an increase.
In a separate party poll, the Democratic Party recorded 40.2% support and the People Power Party 38.5%.
- Who
- President Lee Jae-myung.
- What
- His job approval rose 1.0 percentage point to 34.8%, its first increase in 10 weeks.
- When
- The poll was conducted from October 14 to 18, 2026.
- Where
- Nationwide in South Korea.
- Why
- Realmeter said Lee’s public press conference, where he addressed major political issues and stressed government reform, helped his rating rise.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Realmeter surveyed 2,507 adults nationwide about Lee’s job performance.
Lee’s daily approval readings were 32.9% and 32.1%, respectively.
His daily approval reading rose to 35.3%.
His daily approval reading reached 37.2% on the day of his press conference.
- Lee’s job approval
- 34.8%, up 1.0 percentage point
- Disapproval
- 63.4%, up 0.1 percentage point
- Approval among people in their 20s
- 24.0%, up 5.4 percentage points
- Democratic Party support
- 40.2%, up 4.1 percentage points
- People Power Party support
- 38.5%, down 3.6 percentage points
What people are saying
At the start of the week, the decline in approval continued amid controversy over personnel vetting and the aftermath of confirmation hearings.
By stating his position on major political issues, including a possible second term, cancellation of indictments and troop deployment, and emphasizing his determination to reform government at a public press conference, the approval rating turned upward.