South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is facing a decline in approval ratings despite increasing his presence on social media platform X to engage directly with the public. A recent national poll indicated a drop in his approval rating by 2.2 percentage points, bringing it to 35.2%, while disapproval has risen to 61.4%. The survey reflects diminishing support from centrist, conservative, and progressive voters, amid growing unease over government policies and political conflicts.
Key issues contributing to the president’s declining popularity include criticism over personnel appointments, judicial independence, national security concerns, and rising housing costs in the Seoul metropolitan area. Disagreements within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, particularly over prosecution reform, have further intensified political tensions.
The ruling party also suffered a notable decrease in public support, dropping seven percentage points to 35.5%, according to another survey. In contrast, the main opposition, People Power Party, gained traction, reaching 41.3%. Despite this shift, the difference remains within the survey’s margin of error.
In response to these challenges, President Lee has ramped up his activity on X, increasing his posts from 37 in August to 116 in September, and 65 more in October up to the reported date. His social media efforts aim to explain government policies, address political controversies, and showcase his administration’s achievements. Additionally, Lee has committed to more direct public engagement through press conferences, public debates, field visits, and livestreams.
However, some of his online interactions and personnel choices have met with criticism, including disputes with supporters over prosecution reform. Opposition leaders question whether his social media strategy effectively addresses broader public concerns or primarily caters to his political allies.
This debate over the president’s communication approach comes as he seeks to regain public support amidst ongoing disputes over economic policy, national security, and judicial independence.