President Lee's approval rating among voters in their 20s has fallen to 25%, marking the first time it has entered the 20% range and setting a new record low, according to a Gallup Korea poll reported by Munhwa Ilbo on Sunday.
The decline comes amid political fallout over the appointment of Yoon Hye-in to a key position, a move that has sparked criticism and contributed to the president's slipping support, the Hankyoreh reports.
Overall, President Lee's approval rating has dropped to 40%, also a record low, with the highest negative ratings coming from the Busan and Gyeongnam (PK) region, according to Busan Ilbo.
The dip in support is also reverberating through the ruling bloc, where tensions between the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party are rising. Some observers link the internal friction to Lee's falling numbers, raising questions about the stability of the ruling coalition, as reported by v.daum.net.
The president's declining popularity is now seen as a key test for the viability of the "structural majority" strategy that has underpinned his administration's legislative agenda, according to Ajoo Economy.
With the president's approval sliding across multiple demographics and regions, political watchers are closely monitoring whether the ruling camp can manage internal divisions and reverse the trend. The coming weeks will likely show whether the appointment controversy continues to erode public confidence or if the administration can stabilize its support base.
