{
  "id": 16140059,
  "title": "Lee's approval rating hits 40% for 1st time since early September: poll",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/lees-approval-rating-hits-40-for-1st-time-since-early-september-poll",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-23T02:22:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20261023/lees-approval-rating-hits-40-for-1st-time-since-early-september-poll"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has reached 40 percent for the first time since early September, according to a poll conducted by Gallup Korea. The survey, which polled 1,001 individuals aged 18 and above, revealed a 1 percentage point increase in positive assessments of Lee's performance compared to the previous week. Disapproval of his handling of state affairs dropped by 2 percentage points on-week to 50 percent.\n\nLee's approval rating had previously stood at 40 percent in the first week of September, before plummeting to a record low of 37 percent in two successive polls conducted in late September and early October. Among those who positively evaluated Lee's performance, 21 percent cited diplomacy, 14 percent mentioned economic and livelihood issues, and 7 percent highlighted communication.\n\nOn the other hand, those who disapproved of Lee's performance cited real estate policies, economic and security concerns as the primary reasons. Support for the ruling Democratic Party experienced a 1 percentage point increase to 37 percent, marking its second consecutive weekly gain since hitting a record low.",
  "summary": "President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose to 40 percent for the first time since early September, a poll showed Friday. The survey, conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday on 1,001 people aged 18 and older, showed that positive assessments of Lee's performance increased 1 percentage point from the previous week. Those who disapproved of Lee's handling of state affairs fell by…",
  "key_points": [
    "President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating hits 40% for the first time since early September.",
    "Gallup Korea poll of 1,001 individuals shows 1 percentage point increase in positive assessments.",
    "Disapproval of handling state affairs drops 2 percentage points to 50%."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The slight uptick in President Lee's approval rating signals a stabilization of his public standing following a period of record lows and declining support for his administration's policies.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Lee's approval rating hits 40 pct for 1st time since early Sept.: poll",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/23/lees-approval-rating-hits-40-pct-for-1st-time-since-early-sept-poll",
        "published": "2026-10-23T01:51:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}