Despite No Major Crisis Like the 'Gwangwoo Disease Incident,' President Yoon's Approval Rating Wavers

Core Support Base Defection Phenomenon
Early Term Approval Rating Decline Similar to MB
Clear Downward Trend in Approval Ratings Over the Past Month
Calls to Change National Policy Direction Continue

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] As President Yoon Seok-yeol's approval rating for his national administration shows a downward trend, concerns have grown that his ability to govern may decline.

According to a public opinion poll released by Gallup on the 8th (a telephone interview survey conducted from the 5th to the 7th targeting 1,000 adults aged 18 and over nationwide), 37% responded that President Yoon is performing his duties well, while 49% said he is performing poorly.

Compared to last week's survey, positive evaluations of President Yoon's national administration dropped by 6 percentage points, while negative evaluations rose by 7 percentage points. President Yoon's Gallup approval rating once reached 53% in early June based on Gallup's regular survey, but it has been declining for four consecutive weeks recently.

This is the first time in Gallup's regular public opinion surveys that negative evaluations of President Yoon's job performance have surpassed positive evaluations. In political circles, this phenomenon is called a "death cross."

Gallup pointed out, "Until last week, changes were mainly seen among moderate and undecided voters, but this time, a common trend appeared where positive ratings declined and negative ratings increased across most respondent characteristics, including the elderly, People Power Party supporters, and conservatives who were previously favorable to President Yoon."

In fact, compared to Gallup's first public opinion poll after President Yoon's inauguration, the defection phenomenon among his core supporters is prominent.

As is well known, President Yoon was able to win the last presidential election by leading in Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam, Seoul, the 60s and older age group, and the 20s and 30s age groups.

Based on this, comparing Gallup's first regular public opinion poll after President Yoon's inauguration (conducted May 10?12) with this week's survey, the approval rating in Daegu-Gyeongbuk dropped from 68% to 54%, in Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam from 65% to 45%, and in Seoul from 51% to 37%. By generation, the 60s dropped from 66% to 50%, those aged 60 and above from 73% to 55%. Among people in their 20s, it fell from 45% to 35%, and in their 30s from 54% to 36%.

Among experts, voices expressing concern over the decline in President Yoon's approval rating just two months after his inauguration have emerged. Park Sang-byeong, a visiting professor at Inha University Graduate School of Policy, said, "President Yoon's initial approval rating was lower compared to previous presidents, reflecting that expectations were not high to begin with," adding, "Moreover, core support groups such as those in their 20s and 60s are defecting." Professor Park diagnosed, "Judging by the trend in approval ratings, President Yoon's governance is in a crisis," and said, "It is unprecedented for a government to face a national crisis just two months after inauguration." He added, "In the past, former President Lee Myung-bak faced a crisis during the mad cow disease issue, but President Yoon currently faces no issues like international relations or trade problems as at that time," diagnosing, "This crisis is self-inflicted due to internal problems and incompetence in governance."

Kim Bong-shin, CEO of Metavoice and an expert in public opinion surveys, said, "Looking at Gallup's first quarterly job performance evaluation, President Yoon's positive rating was 50%, and negative rating was 36%, with the negative rating being the highest since the civilian government (Kim Young-sam administration)," pointing out, "The economy and people's livelihood difficulties have a big impact, but the government has no countermeasures." He added, "There are issues like interest rates and a strong fear of soaring prices, but the government only attributes these to environmental variables without clear measures."

Regarding the fact that those who negatively evaluate President Yoon's job performance most frequently mention personnel issues, he said, "Personnel appointments mean selecting acceptable people through acceptable procedures and also relate to the performance of those appointed, but President Yoon has not received positive evaluations in these aspects." CEO Kim said, "Support among self-employed and blue-collar workers, who are the first to suffer from livelihood difficulties, is notably declining."

Comparing Gallup surveys from early in the administration to recent ones, the approval rating among self-employed people, who showed 58% support, dropped to 39%, and among skilled labor/service workers, who showed 49% support, it fell to 30%.

Calls to change the national policy direction are also emerging.

Professor Park said, "The logic of elections is that if people voted for me, I am right," adding, "A competent president and government apply changed circumstances when the situation changes."

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