[Poll Poll News] President Lee's job approval at 44%, "similar" to two weeks ago... Democratic Party 33%, People Power Party 28%

NBS Poll
73% Say Economic Growth Should Be Prioritized
DMZ Landmine Explosion: Government Should Respond Firmly to North Korea

President Lee Jaemyung’s performance in governing remained unchanged. As support for the Democratic Party of Korea fell, its lead over the People Power Party narrowed to within the margin of error.

According to a regular National Barometer Survey (NBS) released on the 15th by Embrain Public, Kstat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research, 44% of respondents gave a positive assessment of President Lee’s performance in governing (“very well” or “well”), while 49% gave a negative assessment (“very poorly” or “poorly”). The survey was conducted from October 12 to 14 among 1,000 adults nationwide through telephone interviews using mobile phones. The margin of error was ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, and the response rate was 16.8%. Compared with the survey conducted two weeks earlier, the positive assessment rose by 1 percentage point, while the negative assessment fell by 1 percentage point.

Yonhap News Agency

NBS said, “Negative assessments were more common in every age group except those in their 40s and 50s.” It added, “By political ideology, positive assessments were higher among progressives and negative assessments were higher among conservatives, while among moderates, positive and negative assessments stood at 48% and 45%, respectively.”

In party support, support for the Democratic Party of Korea stood at 33%, down 2 percentage points from the survey two weeks earlier. Support for the People Power Party was 28%, up 3 percentage points. The gap between the two parties thus narrowed to 5 percentage points, within the margin of error. NBS said this was “the smallest gap recorded in the past six months.”

Asked which should take priority at present, economic growth or income distribution, 73% said “economic growth,” compared with 23% who said “income distribution.” Compared with the survey conducted in the second week of April this year, support for prioritizing economic growth fell by 6 percentage points, while support for income distribution rose by 6 percentage points. Economic growth nevertheless remained the preferred priority.

A survey on polarization found that respondents considered the following disparities serious: “development gaps between the Seoul metropolitan area and other regions” (83%), “the gap between rich and poor” (80%), “the information gap based on digital literacy” (63%), and “differences in educational attainment” (62%). However, the share of respondents who said these disparities were not serious fell by 4 to 6 percentage points compared with the survey conducted in the second week of April this year. The share saying the development gap between the Seoul metropolitan area and other regions was serious fell by 5 percentage points, while the share saying the gap between rich and poor was serious fell by 4 percentage points. The shares saying the information gap based on digital literacy and differences in educational attainment were serious each fell by 6 percentage points.

On how to use tax revenue exceeding projections, 52% said it should be used to “repay national debt and reduce the government’s fiscal burden,” while 46% said a separate fund should be set up to “invest in future industries and prepare for crises.”

Despite rising fuel costs, 64% said increases in electricity rates should be “delayed as long as possible,” 30 percentage points more than the 34% who said rates “should be raised.”

Regarding jeonse and monthly rent prices in their area over the next year, 59% expected them to “rise” (significantly or slightly), 28% expected “no change,” and 8% expected them to “fall” (slightly or significantly).

In connection with the recent landmine explosion in the DMZ, 65% said the government “should respond firmly to North Korea,” roughly twice the 32% who said “military tensions between the two Koreas should be reduced.”

For more information about the survey, visit the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.

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