(LEAD) Lee's approval rating hits record low since inauguration: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating plummeted to its lowest point since taking office, according to a recent poll. Conducted from Monday to Wednesday, the National Barometer Survey found Lee's support at 49 percent, a 4 percentage point decline compared to the previous biweekly survey. This marked the first time his approval dipped below 50 percent in the ongoing series of polls.

The drop came after another pollster, Realmeter, reported a similar decline in its weekly survey, attributing the fall to factors such as the government's proposed property tax revision and a contentious change to the Criminal Procedure Act. The revised tax measures aim to impose heavier taxes on high-end homeowners, but critics argue it may increase housing market uncertainty and shift the burden onto tenants.

Disapproval of Lee's performance rose to 43 percent in the National Barometer Survey, with 56 percent of respondents expressing dissatisfaction with the government's real estate policies. The poll also revealed that 46 percent of respondents backed the proposed property tax revision, while 41 percent opposed it. Support for the ruling Democratic Party (DP) remained steady at 40 percent, while the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) saw a 2 percentage point rise to 23 percent.

Support for the DP remained consistent across all age groups except those under 20 and in specific regions such as Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.