[Polpol News] President Yoon's Approval Rating Turns Downward... 49% of Respondents Say "Poor Response to Medical Service Gaps"

President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating for his administration, which had been on the rise since the Lunar New Year, has shown a decline. Nearly half of the respondents in the overall public opinion survey felt that the government has not responded well to the policy of expanding medical school quotas.

According to a public opinion poll released on the 15th by Gallup Korea (an independent survey conducted from the 12th to the 14th nationwide targeting 1,002 people aged 18 and over, using 100% wireless telephone interviewer method), the positive evaluation of President Yoon's job performance dropped by 3 percentage points from the previous survey to 36%. Negative evaluations rose by 3 percentage points to 57%. President Yoon's approval rating was 33% after the Lunar New Year (3rd week of February), but it had shown an upward trend, reaching 39% last week.

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Gallup analyzed, "The week before last, the increase in medical school quotas emerged as the top reason for positive job performance evaluations, which seemed to drive the rise in the president's approval rating. However, this week, the rise in positive job performance evaluations has stopped, and mentions of the medical school quota increase as a reason for positive evaluations have decreased. This is presumed to reflect concerns over the strong confrontation between the government and the medical community and the prolonged medical service gaps." In addition, personnel issues newly emerged as reasons for negative evaluations, including the issue of former Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, who is under suspicion of exerting pressure on the investigation of a Marine's death, departing for Australia as ambassador.

Regarding the expansion of medical school quotas, while there were criticisms of the government's response, support for reform remained high. Forty-seven percent of respondents said that the quota should be expanded by 2,000 as per the government's plan, and 41% said a compromise plan adjusting the scale and timing should be prepared. Six percent said the quota should not be expanded. However, concerns about medical service gaps due to resident doctors' strikes increased. Sixty-nine percent of respondents said they worry about not being able to receive treatment when sick because of this issue. Twenty-eight percent said they were not worried. Regarding the government's response to the doctors' opposition and medical service gaps, 38% said the government is doing well, while 49% said it is doing poorly.

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With less than a month remaining before the general election, the rise of the Joguk Innovation Party in proportional representation party support is notable. In party support, the People Power Party remained at 37% as last week, while the Democratic Party and Joguk Innovation Party each rose by 1 percentage point to 32% and 7%, respectively. Regarding proportional representation, which is elected separately from district candidates, support for the People Power Party's satellite party, People’s Future, dropped by 3 percentage points to 34%, while the Democratic Party and other opposition parties' proportional coalition party, the Democratic Union, rose by 1 percentage point to 25%. The Joguk Innovation Party rose by 4 percentage points to 19% compared to last week.

Regarding the nature of the general election, 40% of respondents said the ruling party should have the majority, while 49% said the opposition party should have the majority.

For detailed public opinion poll results, please refer to the website of the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission.

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