Lee's approval rating falls to new low of 37%: poll

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has plummeted to a record low of 37 percent, according to a recent poll, marking the fourth consecutive week of decline since his inauguration in June. Gallup Korea's survey, conducted from Tuesday to Thursday on 1,002 respondents aged 18 and above, revealed that Lee's positive performance rating dropped by one percentage point from the previous week.

His disapproval rating, however, surged by five percentage points to 56 percent, surpassing his approval rating by 19 points and reaching its highest level since he assumed office.

The poll identified real estate policies as the primary reason for negative assessments, cited by 20 percent of respondents. Personnel appointments followed, with 16 percent of respondents criticizing Lee's recent Cabinet nominations. Economic and livelihood concerns were mentioned by 9 percent of those who disapproved of his performance.

The pollster noted that real estate issues have been the leading cause of negative evaluations since late July, while personnel appointments have been the second most common reason for dissatisfaction due to recent Cabinet nominations.

Lee's nominations for justice minister and gender equality minister have sparked controversy in recent weeks, with both nominees facing backlash over recent controversies.