Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has fallen to 43.3%.
- Negative assessments of President Lee's performance rose to 53%.
- Property tax revisions, criminal procedure act amendment, and remarks about military coups are cited as reasons for low approval.
- The government is urging enhanced protection for vulnerable workers during a heat wave.
- Migrant workers and elderly farmers are identified as high-risk groups needing protection.
- Discrepancies have been found between final voter counts and on-site tallies from the June 3 local elections.
- Investigators are examining the possibility of data manipulation by election officials.
- Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok won Democratic Party primaries in Gangwon and Daegu-North Gyeongsang provinces.
- Kim Min-seok leads Jung Chung-rae in the cumulative vote count for party leadership.
- The Democratic Party's leadership election is scheduled for August 17.
President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has reached a new low of 43.3%, according to a Realmeter poll, marking the lowest point since he assumed office. Negative assessments of his presidency have climbed to 53%, with key drivers including controversial property tax revisions, an amendment to the criminal procedure act, and remarks made by the president concerning military coups. These policy controversies appear to be significantly impacting public perception.
Amidst a severe heat wave, the South Korean government has issued calls for enhanced protection measures for vulnerable outdoor workers and livestock. Although top alerts for the heat wave have been lifted, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters has reviewed emergency protocols. The emphasis is on safeguarding high-risk groups, specifically mentioning migrant workers and elderly farmers who are particularly susceptible to extreme weather conditions.
Further complicating the domestic landscape, discrepancies have emerged between final voter counts and on-site tallies from the June 3 local elections. Data submitted to a lawmaker indicates these inconsistencies, prompting investigators to examine the possibility of data manipulation by election officials. This situation raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.
In political party developments, former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has secured victories in the Democratic Party's primaries held in Gangwon Province and Daegu-North Gyeongsang Province. He is currently leading Jung Chung-rae in the cumulative vote count as the party prepares for its leadership election scheduled for August 17.