Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating dropped to 43.3%, the lowest since he assumed office.
- Negative assessments of his performance increased to 53%.
- Key policy controversies include proposed property tax revisions and a criminal procedure act amendment.
- The government's proposed tax adjustments aim to increase the burden on owners of high-end homes and non-resident property owners.
- Support for the ruling Democratic Party decreased to 44.6%.
President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has dropped to its lowest point since he took office, reaching 43.3% in a poll conducted by Realmeter for the EKN newspaper. This marks the fourth consecutive weekly decline, with negative assessments of his performance rising to 53%.
Several government policies and events contributed to the dip in public approval. These include proposed revisions to property taxes aimed at stabilizing the housing market by increasing the burden on owners of high-end homes and those who do not reside in their properties. Additionally, controversy surrounding a recently passed revision to the Criminal Procedure Act, which seeks to strip prosecutors of their investigative authority, has weighed on public sentiment.
Other factors cited by the pollster include the prolonged heat wave and President Lee's remarks suggesting that the Korea Military Academy was central to past military coups. In a separate poll, support for the ruling Democratic Party fell to 44.6%, while the main opposition People Power Party saw its support drop slightly to 37.6%.