South Korea’s Lee accepts resignation of policy adviser following cabinet reshuffle

South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung has accepted the resignation of his chief presidential policy adviser, Kim Yong-beom, following a cabinet reshuffle aimed at addressing a decline in his approval rating. The Blue House confirmed the move on Tuesday, citing the president's decision to accept Kim's resignation.

Kim Yong-beom served as a key advisor to President Lee on economic policy, focusing on housing and stock market matters. The resignation comes after President Lee announced a cabinet reshuffle on Sunday, during which he appointed six new ministers. These replacements included ministers for the economy, finance, and land, as well as new presidential aides. In late August, President Lee also appointed a new trade minister.

According to a Realmeter poll released on Monday, President Lee's approval rating has dropped by 1.3 percentage points to 38.9%. This marks the first time his rating has fallen into the 30% range since he assumed office in June of the previous year. The poll attributed the decline in sentiment to concerns over housing prices and rental costs.