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Recent polls indicate that President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating is stuck in the 30% range. According to the polling agency Realmeter, the positive evaluation of the president's governance stands at 38.9%, a decrease of 1.3 percentage points from the previous week, marking a record low. In contrast, the negative evaluation has risen to 58.7%, up by 1.8 percentage points. Notably, the decline in support is particularly pronounced among progressive groups and those in their 40s and 50s, while centrist support has dropped nearly 10 percentage points in six weeks.
Within the ruling party, the decline in approval ratings is attributed to real estate issues. Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party, emphasized that if the president's approval rating falls below 40%, it would lead to a loss of governance momentum, highlighting that the fundamental cause is the real estate problem. He also mentioned issues related to stocks and police, suggesting that real estate remains a significant obstacle.
However, the Blue House has hinted that its stance on real estate and financial policies will not change by retaining Policy Chief Kim Yong-beom in a recent cabinet reshuffle. The ruling party's floor leader, Jeong Jeom-sik, criticized the lack of willingness for policy renewal, questioning whether the Blue House's moderate cabinet reshuffle could lead to a rebound. There is also a possibility that if verification issues arise in the upcoming confirmation hearings, the downward trend in approval ratings could continue.