Yoon Suk-yeol's Approval Rating Hits New Low

In October 2023, President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating fell to a low of 20%, marking a decline over six weeks, with disapproval rates rising to 70%. According to a survey by Gallup Korea, the primary cause for this drop is linked to issues surrounding First Lady Kim Geon-hee, with 15% of respondents citing this as a major concern. Economic struggles and a lack of communication also contributed to negative perceptions of his performance. The approval rating in the Daegu- and Gyeongbuk-region saw a significant decline, hitting just 26%. It is particularly alarming that only 6% of respondents in their 40s expressed positive opinions, which signals a troubling trend for President Yoon and the ruling party. The survey indicated that the approval ratings for both the People Power Party and the Democratic Party were tied. Conducted between October 22 and 24, the survey had a response rate of 12.4% and a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points. Given these findings, maintaining governance momentum as Yoon enters the second half of his term may become increasingly challenging. This low approval rating is concerning, especially when compared to previous presidents in similar circumstances.