President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating has fallen into the 50-percent range for the first time in eight weeks, according to a poll released Tuesday.
A survey conducted by polling firm Realmeter, commissioned by Energy Economy Newspaper, of 2,006 voters aged 18 or older nationwide from October 27 to 30 put Lee's approval rating at 59.5 percent. After peaking at 65.5 percent two weeks ago, the president's rating has declined successively, returning to the 50-percent range for the first time since the first week of March.
"The decline appears to reflect a combination of factors, including mounting burdens on household finances from high oil prices, a weak won and rising consumer prices, along with controversy over Unification Minister Chung Dong-young's security-related remarks and labor-management disputes," Realmeter said.
By ideological orientation, positive assessments of Lee's performance fell 2.9 percentage points among conservatives and 2.8 percentage points among moderates compared with the previous survey. Among progressives, the figure rose 1.8 percentage points.
By gender, positive assessments among women fell 3.6 percentage points from the previous survey, while those among men dropped 1.7 percentage points.
Meanwhile, a separate party support survey of 1,006 voters aged 18 or older nationwide conducted from October 29 to 30 showed the Democratic Party at 48.6 percent and the People Power Party at 31.6 percent.
Support for the Democratic Party fell 2.7 percentage points from the previous week, slipping into the 40-percent range for the first time in four weeks. The People Power Party rose 0.9 percentage points, staying in the low 30-percent range for a sixth consecutive week.
"The Democratic Party saw significant defections as discontent among self-employed business owners grew amid high prices and high oil costs, with support declining particularly among moderates and older age groups," Realmeter said.
"The People Power Party showed a modest uptick from a stagnant trend, driven by conservative consolidation ahead of the local elections and some inflow of voters who had left the ruling party," it added.
Elsewhere, the Rebuilding Korea Party registered 4.0 percent, the Reform Party 2.6 percent and the Progressive Party 2.2 percent.
The presidential performance survey drew responses from 2,006 voters aged 18 or older nationwide between October 27 and 30, with a response rate of 4.6 percent. The margin of error is ±2.2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. The party support survey drew responses from 1,006 voters aged 18 or older nationwide between October 29 and 30, with a response rate of 4.6 percent. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. Both surveys were conducted using an automated response system on mobile phones (100 percent). Further details are available on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.
