Lee’s Approval Rating Rises for First Time in 10 Weeks

President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating rose for the first time in 10 weeks, according to a new nationwide survey that showed a late-week improvement following his press conference on major political issues.

Realmeter said 34.8 percent of respondents gave a positive assessment of Lee’s job performance, up 1 percentage point from the previous week. Negative assessments also increased slightly, rising 0.1 percentage point to 63.4 percent.

The survey covered 2,507 adults across South Korea from Monday through Friday. It was commissioned by EKN newspaper and had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

The weekly result ended a run of nine consecutive declines since Lee’s rating stood at 48.9 percent on July 13. The daily figures showed that sentiment remained weak in the middle of the week before turning higher. His rating was 32.9 percent on Tuesday and 32.1 percent on Wednesday, then climbed to 35.3 percent on Thursday and 37.2 percent on Friday.

Friday’s rise coincided with a presidential press conference at which Lee addressed several contentious issues. Realmeter said the president’s support had continued to weaken early in the week amid disputes over personnel screening and the fallout from confirmation hearings.

The administration has faced scrutiny over the qualifications of Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won and Gender Equality Minister nominee Yong Hye-in. Both nominees withdrew from consideration, adding pressure on the government’s appointment and vetting process.

According to the pollster, the trend improved after Lee set out his position on questions including a possible extension of the presidential term, the cancellation of indictments and troop deployment. Realmeter also cited his renewed commitment to reforming state affairs as a factor in the shift.

The increase was modest and came alongside a marginal rise in negative evaluations, leaving a wide gap between favorable and unfavorable assessments. Even so, the reversal is politically significant because it interrupts a prolonged slide and suggests the president’s direct explanation of disputed policies may have helped recover some support by the end of the week.

Future surveys will show whether the change marks the beginning of a sustained recovery or a brief response to the press conference. The administration still faces the task of rebuilding confidence in personnel decisions while advancing its broader reform agenda.