The positive assessment of Lee's performance stood at 40.2%, down 2.8 percentage points from the previous week, according to a poll released on the 24th by the polling firm Realmeter at the request of Energy Economy News. Lee's approval rating declined for a sixth straight week, again marking the lowest level since he took office. (The survey covered 2,026 voters aged 18 and older nationwide from the 18th to the 21st.)
By region, the decline was most pronounced in Gwangju-South Jeolla and North Jeolla. It fell 8.8 percentage points in Gwangju-South Jeolla and North Jeolla, and also dropped 3.1 percentage points in Daegu-North Gyeongsang. It declined 2.7 and 2.3 percentage points in Daejeon-Sejong-Chungcheong and Incheon-Gyeonggi, respectively.
The negative assessment was 56.9%, up 2.8 percentage points from the previous survey. The gap between positive and negative assessments was 16.7 percentage points, outside the margin of error, while "don't know" was 3.0%.
Realmeter analyzed, "Amid growing distrust in real estate policy over the controversy surrounding housing supply at Yongsan Park, conflict between the ruling and opposition parties over the written nomination of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-de and the push for constitutional revision, along with security concerns stemming from the scaling back of the ROK-U.S. joint exercises, appear to have expanded the defection of conservatives and those aged 70 and older."
Meanwhile, in a party support survey conducted from the 20th to the 21st among 1,009 voters aged 18 and older nationwide, the gap between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party was a close contest within the margin of error.
The Democratic Party recorded 41.9%, down 6.0 percentage points from the previous survey, while the People Power Party rose 4.5 percentage points to 37.6%. The gap between the two parties was 4.3 percentage points, a close contest within the margin of error.
The Democratic Party's drop in support was most pronounced in its key support bases such as Honam and Chungcheong. It fell 21.2 percentage points in Gwangju-South Jeolla and North Jeolla, and 16.5 percentage points in Daejeon-Sejong-Chungcheong. By age group, support fell across all ages, including an 11.7 percentage point drop among those in their 70s and older and an 8.7 percentage point drop among those in their 30s.
Regarding the Democratic Party, Realmeter explained, "With the convention effect from the end of the party leadership convention having dissipated, the drop in support appears to stem from the combination of conflict over real estate policy surrounding housing supply at Yongsan Park and exposure of internal party conflict over the appointment of appointed supreme council members by the Kim Min-seok leadership."
Regarding the People Power Party, it analyzed, "By intensively highlighting the ruling bloc's real estate and political management controversies and security concerns stemming from the scaling back of the ROK-U.S. joint exercises, it consolidated conservatives and absorbed defectors from the Democratic Party, expanding its support among those in their 30s and 70s and older and in Daegu-North Gyeongsang."
In addition, the Rebuilding Korea Party stood at 3.9%, the Progressive Party at 2.3%, and the Reform Party at 2%. Other parties were 2.5%, and unaffiliated voters at 9.7%.
The presidential performance survey drew responses from 2,026 voters aged 18 and older nationwide from the 18th to the 21st, with a response rate of 3.2%. The margin of error was ±2.2 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. The party support survey drew responses from 1,009 voters aged 18 and older nationwide from the 20th to the 21st, with a response rate of 2.9%. The margin of error was ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Both surveys were conducted via wireless (100%) automated response. For details, refer to the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.
