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Lee's approval rating hits record high at 65.5% due to achievements in economy, energy security: Poll

Published: 20 Apr. 2026, 14:49

President Lee Jae Myung delivers commemorative remarks at the 11th West Sea Defense Day Commemoration at the Daejeon National Cemetery on March 27. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating hit 65.5 percent — the highest since his inauguration in June 2025 — due to achievements in the economy and energy security, a poll showed on Monday.

According to a survey conducted by Realmeter and commissioned by EKN newspaper, 65.5 percent of 2,519 respondents aged 18 or older positively assessed Lee's performance, up 3.6 percentage points from the previous poll.

The previous record was 64.6 percent during the second week of July last year.

The latest survey, conducted nationwide from April 13 through Friday, also showed that 30 percent of respondents viewed Lee's performance negatively, down 2.8 percentage points from the previous poll, while 4.5 percent said they were unsure.

“The increase in the approval rate was driven by achievements in the economy and energy security, such as the securing of large amounts of crude oil amid the Middle East crisis and the Kospi's recovery to the 6,200-point level,” the pollster said.

Lee's hard-line remarks on Israel's alleged mistreatment of Palestinians and his attendance at a ceremony commemorating the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster had widened his appeal among moderates and young voters, it added.

The survey had a margin of error of 2 percent, with a 95 percent confidence level.

Yonhap