Yoon’s Approval Rating Drops to Lowest Since Inauguration: Gallup Poll

SEOUL: President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating has fallen to 20 percent, marking the lowest point since he assumed office in May 2022, according to a Gallup Korea poll released on Friday. The survey reveals a 2 percentage point decrease in positive assessments of Yoon's performance from the previous week, with 70 percent of respondents expressing disapproval, an increase of 1 percentage point. According to Yonhap News Agency, President Yoon's approval ratings had previously remained above 20 percent for five consecutive weeks after hitting a low of 20 percent in mid-September, as reported by Gallup surveys. The decline in approval is attributed to Yoon's handling of sensitive issues, including allegations against first lady Kim Keon Hee, economic challenges, and perceived lack of communication. First lady Kim has faced accusations involving a stock manipulation scheme, the illegal acquisition of a luxury bag, and meddling in the ruling People Power Party's candidate selections for the upcoming April gene ral elections. The poll also indicates that both the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party hold an approval rating of 30 percent each. Additionally, 73 percent of respondents perceive North Korea's growing military ties with Russia as a threat, and 66 percent believe South Korea should restrict its military aid to Ukraine to nonlethal support, such as medicine and food. The survey was conducted from Tuesday to Thursday, sampling 1,001 adults, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.