Democratic Party Hits Post-Inauguration Low as People Power Party Reaches a High; Support Gap Narrows to Within Margin of Error [Polpol News]

Gallup Korea's Regular Poll
President Lee Jae-myung's Job Approval Rating at 39%
Democratic Party of Korea 35%, People Power Party 30%

President Lee Jae-myung’s job approval rating edged down, but there was no significant change. Support for the Democratic Party of Korea fell to its lowest level since the current administration took office, while support for the People Power Party rose to its highest level, narrowing the gap between the two parties to within the margin of error. Opinions were evenly divided on whether the second-trial ruling in Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s Political Funds Act case was appropriate or not.

According to a regular poll conducted by Gallup Korea and released on the 30th (a telephone interviewer survey via mobile phones of 1,000 people aged 18 or older nationwide from the 27th to the 29th of this month; margin of error: ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level; response rate: 10.4%), 39% said they thought President Lee was doing a good job, while 49% said he was doing a poor job. Twelve percent withheld their opinion. Both his positive and negative ratings fell by 1 percentage point.

Gallup Korea explained, "Although the leading digit of the figures has changed, this is not a change that warrants much significance," adding, "The reasons for positive and negative evaluations are generally similar to last week."

In party support, the Democratic Party of Korea came in at 35%, the People Power Party at 30%, the Cho Kuk Innovation Party at 3%, the New Reform Party at 2%, and the Progressive Party at 1%. Those who did not support any party accounted for 28%. Support for the Democratic Party of Korea fell by 2 percentage points from the previous poll, while support for the People Power Party rose by 2 percentage points. The Democratic Party of Korea recorded its lowest rating (tied with the second week of October this year), while the People Power Party recorded its highest rating (tied with the first week of September this year). As a result, the gap between the two parties narrowed to 5 percentage points, within the margin of error. The gap between the two parties was also the narrowest since the current administration took office.

The poll also asked about the second-trial ruling acquitting Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon in his Political Funds Act case. Thirty-four percent of respondents said it was "an appropriate ruling," while 37% said it was "an inappropriate ruling." Twenty-nine percent withheld their opinion. In the first trial, Mayor Oh was sentenced to a fine of 10 million won, an amount that could have cost him his mayoral office, but he was acquitted in the second trial.

Asked about their outlook for home prices over the next year, 53% said they expected them to "rise." Fourteen percent said they would "fall," 23% said there would be "no change," and 10% withheld their opinion. Regarding the outlook for housing rents, including jeonse and monthly rent, over the next year, 66% of respondents expected them to "rise." Seven percent said they would "fall," while 18% expected "no change."

Gallup Korea added, "Expectations of rising home prices and rents were particularly pronounced among people in their 20s and 30s," noting that "in most past polls, these age groups have also tended to expect home prices or housing rents to rise further."

Asked which financial investment option they considered most advantageous, respondents chose "real estate" (28%), "stocks" (26%), "savings and installment savings" (24%), and "virtual assets" (3%), among other options. Compared with the same poll in January this year, real estate and savings and installment savings rose by 6 and 7 percentage points, respectively, while stocks fell by 11 percentage points.

For more details about the poll, visit the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.

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