[Editorial] The Warning of 36.8% in Seoul: Change Must Begin with the President

In the first week of August, a Realmeter poll found that President Lee Jaemyung’s positive approval rating for state affairs dropped for the fourth consecutive week, reaching 43.3%. The gap with the negative rating, which stood at 53.0%, widened to 9.7 percentage points. Three points stand out. In Seoul, support fell below 40%, dropping to 36.8%. Among those in their 40s and 50s—traditionally the core support base for the ruling bloc—approval dropped by double digits compared to early June. It is also noteworthy that the President’s approval rating is now lower than that of the Democratic Party of Korea. This trend, revealed in regular opinion polls more than a year into the administration, is not something to be taken lightly or dismissed as an outlier.

It is difficult to pinpoint a single cause. Dissatisfaction with real estate policies, concerns over proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act, and worries about the integration of the Military, Naval, and Air Force Academies have all converged. The fierce clashes between leadership contenders during the Democratic Party’s convention process also left a poor impression. The so-called “abandoned bus housing” remark by Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Hee further fueled this atmosphere. Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo’s criticism that “they are mistaking the destruction of the existing order for reform, failing to distinguish between reform and destruction” is not unrelated to this prevailing sentiment.

The President’s words and conduct have also played a role. Statements such as “It’s harder to stabilize housing prices than to tidy up a valley,” “The center of three coups was the Military Academy—if we integrate, wouldn’t this risk be reduced?” and “Ministries are out of sync? If cabinet members don’t argue, the people will,” as well as a detailed, hands-on approach in cabinet meetings that focuses on even the smallest figures—all of these need to change. When state affairs depend excessively on the President’s own judgments and explanations, there is less room for alternative voices from advisors, ministers, and the ruling party to be reflected in policy. The cabinet ends up looking only to the President, becoming reluctant to make responsible decisions.

Change must begin with the President. He needs to limit the frequency of direct instructions and public remarks over each issue, and show a willingness to listen fully to different arguments and points of opposition. The time has come to look back with an open mind to understand the reasons for the decline in approval and to reevaluate messaging strategies. The President should focus more on national, long-term, and strategic tasks. While principles must be maintained, the means and pace should be redesigned in line with the reactions from the market and the public. The 36.8% support rate in Seoul reflects public sentiment: The President must speak less, listen more, and move toward a decision-making process that is inclusive and collaborative.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.