South Korea's Lee Jae Myung approval rating hits record low in ninth straight week of decline
Synopsis
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has hit its lowest point since he took office — 33.8% — after nine straight weeks of decline. Two Cabinet picks mired in scandal, a controversial Hormuz deployment debate, and a collapse in support among under-30 voters have combined to hand the opposition People Power Party a lead in party polling for the first time in recent weeks.
Key Takeaways
Lee Jae Myung's approval rating fell to 33.8 per cent , down 3.6 percentage points — the lowest since he took office.
His disapproval rating climbed to 63.3 per cent , up 3.8 percentage points from the previous week.
Support among those aged 18 to 29 dropped by 10.2 percentage points in a single week.
Yong Hye-in , nominee for Gender Equality Minister , stepped down on Sunday amid allegations of nepotism.
Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won faces allegations of illegally lobbying over a Covid treatment approval in 2021 .
The ruling Democratic Party's support fell to 36.1 per cent while the opposition People Power Party rose to 42.1 per cent .
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has fallen to its lowest point since he assumed office, declining for a ninth consecutive week amid mounting controversies over his Cabinet reshuffle, a new poll revealed on Monday, 14 September 2026. The survey, conducted by polling firm Realmeter and commissioned by the EKN newspaper, found that just 33.8 per cent of respondents positively assessed his handling of state affairs — down 3.6 percentage points from the previous week.
Poll Findings
The Realmeter survey was conducted among 2,515 adults over the course of the week, with a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points at a 95 per cent confidence level. Lee's disapproval rating climbed 3.8 percentage points to reach 63.3 per cent — a stark indicator of eroding public confidence in his administration.
The sharpest single demographic drop came among younger voters: support among those aged 18 to 29 fell by 10.2 percentage points, suggesting that a constituency once considered sympathetic to Lee's progressive positioning is now pulling back.
What Is Driving the Decline
Realmeter attributed the continued slide to three converging controversies: the fallout from Lee's recent Cabinet reshuffle, public unease over the possible deployment of military assets to the Strait of Hormuz, and persistent uncertainty surrounding real estate policies. The pollster also noted a sharp drop in support among liberal voters, raising questions about the cohesion of Lee's own base.
This comes amid what analysts describe as a compounding credibility problem — each week's new controversy reinforcing public doubts formed in earlier ones. The ninth consecutive week of decline signals a structural erosion, not merely a reactive dip.
Cabinet Picks Under Fire
Two ministerial nominees have emerged as focal points of controversy. Rep. Yong Hye-in of the minor Basic Income Party, tapped as the new Minister of Gender Equality, stepped down on Sunday amid mounting criticism over alleged nepotism and her stated intention to retain her proportional representation seat in the National Assembly even if appointed to the Cabinet.
Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won faces separate allegations that he illegally lobbied authorities over the approval of a Covid treatment in 2021. Neither controversy has been fully resolved, and both continue to generate negative press coverage for the ruling party.
Party Support Shifts
A companion poll conducted by the same pollster — surveying 1,003 individuals aged 18 and older on Thursday and Friday, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 per cent confidence level — showed support for the ruling Democratic Party falling 5.7 percentage points to 36.1 per cent. Meanwhile, support for the main opposition People Power Party rose 4.5 percentage points to 42.1 per cent, handing the opposition a notable lead in party preference polling.
What Comes Next
With the opposition People Power Party gaining ground in party polls and Lee's personal approval mired at a record low, the administration faces growing pressure to resolve the ministerial controversies swiftly and clarify its stance on contentious policy questions. How Lee navigates the coming weeks — particularly on real estate and the Hormuz deployment question — is likely to determine whether the poll slide continues or stabilises.
Point of View
A cohort that progressive leaders in South Korea have traditionally relied upon as an anchor constituency. The Cabinet reshuffle controversies are symptomatic of a broader vetting failure, and the Hormuz deployment debate has introduced a national security dimension that complicates Lee's positioning further. With the People Power Party now ahead in party preference polling, the opposition has a credible rallying narrative heading into any future electoral contest. The administration's response in the next two to three weeks will be closely watched — a second ministerial exit or an escalation of the lobbying allegations could push Lee's numbers below 30 per cent, a threshold that historically makes governance in South Korea significantly harder.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating falling?
Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has dropped to a record low of 33.8 per cent after nine consecutive weeks of decline, driven by controversies over his Cabinet reshuffle, a debate over possible military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, and uncertainty over real estate policies. A sharp 10.2 percentage point drop in support among voters aged 18 to 29 has compounded the slide.
What happened to the Gender Equality Minister nominee?
Rep. Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party, Lee's pick for Gender Equality Minister, stepped down on Sunday following criticism over alleged nepotism and her stated plan to retain her National Assembly proportional representation seat even after joining the Cabinet. Her withdrawal added to the administration's woes during an already turbulent political week.
What allegations does Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won face?
Kim Seung-won, Lee's nominee for Justice Minister, faces allegations that he illegally lobbied authorities in 2021 to secure approval for a Covid treatment. The allegations remain unresolved and continue to generate negative coverage for the ruling Democratic Party.
How has party support shifted in South Korea's latest poll?
The ruling Democratic Party's support fell 5.7 percentage points to 36.1 per cent, while the opposition People Power Party rose 4.5 percentage points to 42.1 per cent, according to a companion Realmeter survey of 1,003 adults. This is a significant reversal that gives the opposition a clear lead in party preference polling.
What is the significance of nine consecutive weeks of declining approval?
Nine straight weeks of falling approval ratings indicate a sustained erosion of public confidence rather than a short-term reaction to a single event. For Lee's administration, it signals difficulty in containing multiple controversies simultaneously and raises questions about the ruling Democratic Party's prospects in future elections, especially as younger and liberal voters withdraw support.
