[COVER STORY] President pressed to change course as approval rating hits record low

President Lee Jae Myung finds himself under increasing pressure to alter his course as his approval rating dwindles to a record low. A series of contentious government-led initiatives has unsettled the public, prompting Cheong Wa Dae to commit to a renewed emphasis on improving people's livelihoods and demonstrating tangible economic outcomes.

Disputes surrounding policies have only intensified, with recent controversies including a real estate tax reform, efforts to reform prosecutions, and a proposed merger of military academies. Recent disputes have also erupted over plans to construct rental housing instead of parkland on a large site in central Seoul’s Yongsan District, as well as the reduction of joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States.

Furthermore, tensions have risen between Cheong Wa Dae and the Supreme Court over the nomination of new justices.

Analysts suggest that President Lee faces limited options for turning the situation around amid the ongoing disputes. As the public increasingly views these initiatives as threats to their economic well-being, access to justice, and national security rather than as ideological matters, the president is left with few viable paths forward.