President Lee Jae-myung’s job approval rating has reached 67%, marking its highest level since his inauguration for two weeks in a row, according to a new poll released by Gallup Korea on Friday.

High Public Trust Amid Economic Focus
The survey, conducted from April 7 to 9 among 1,002 adults nationwide, showed that 67% of respondents viewed President Lee’s performance positively, mirroring the record-breaking figures from the previous week and late March. The consistency in these figures suggests a solidifying base of public support as the administration enters a critical phase of its term.

Conversely, negative assessments stood at 24%, reflecting a slight 2-percentage-point increase from the prior survey. Approximately 10% of those surveyed remained undecided or declined to provide an opinion.

Economy and Diplomacy Drive Positive Sentiment
Analysis of the data reveals that "Economy and Public Livelihood" remains the primary driver behind the President’s high ratings, cited by 19% of supporters. Other key factors contributing to the positive outlook included:

Diplomatic Efforts: 12%
General Performance: 11%
Competence and Professionalism: 10%
The emphasis on economic stability and active diplomatic engagement appears to have resonated deeply with the electorate, providing the President with significant political capital.

Concerns Over Fiscal Spending and Exchange Rates
Despite the overwhelming approval, the administration faces scrutiny regarding its fiscal policy. Among the 24% who disapproved of the President’s performance, the leading concerns were:

Economic Issues and High Exchange Rates: 16%
Excessive Welfare and Livelihood Subsidies: 14%
General Dissatisfaction: 8%
Critics have voiced concern over the long-term impact of the administration's "Min-saeng" (Livelihood) subsidies and expansive welfare programs, fearing potential inflationary pressure or fiscal strain.

Party Support: Democratic Party Maintains Dominance
In tandem with the President’s high ratings, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) maintained its strongest position since the current government took office. The party’s support rating held steady at 48%, significantly outpacing the opposition.

The main opposition, the People Power Party (PPP), saw a modest increase of 2 percentage points, bringing its support to 20%. Other minor parties recorded the following:

New Reform Party: 3%
Rebuilding Korea Party: 1%
Progressive Party: 1%
Independent/No Affiliation: 25%

Survey Methodology
The poll was conducted via telephone interviews using randomly generated virtual mobile numbers. It has a response rate of 15.0% and a contact rate of 36.0%. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Detailed information regarding the survey is available on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]