{
  "id": 2281913,
  "title": "Lee's approval rating inches up from record low to 45%: poll",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/lees-approval-rating-inches-up-from-record-low-to-45-poll",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T02:52:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20260821/lees-approval-rating-inches-up-from-record-low-to-45-poll"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating has seen a slight improvement from a record low, according to a recent poll conducted by Gallup Korea. The survey, which polled 1,004 individuals aged 18 and above between Tuesday and Thursday, revealed that 45% of respondents expressed a positive view of Lee's management of state affairs, marking a 1 percentage point increase from the previous survey released last week. Conversely, Lee's disapproval rating remained steady at 45%, with an additional 11% of respondents indicating they were unsure of their stance.\n\nThe pollster did not specify the reason behind the slight increase in Lee's approval rating. However, diplomacy emerged as the most frequently cited reason for positive evaluations, cited by 19% of respondents. This was followed by the economy and people's livelihoods, which were mentioned by 11% of respondents, while overall performance and communication each received 7% of the positive evaluations.\n\nAmong those who disapproved of Lee's performance, 28% pointed to his real estate policies, 12% attributed their disapproval to concerns over the economy and people's livelihoods, and 7% cited defense, security, and North Korea-related policies as reasons for their unfavorable view of Lee's handling of these matters. The pollster noted that the rise in respondents mentioning defense as a factor in their disapproval appeared to be notable.",
  "summary": "President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose slightly this week after hitting a record low, a poll showed Friday. In a survey conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday on 1,004 people aged 18 and older, 45 percent positively assessed Lee's management of state affairs, up 1 percentage point from a record low of 44 percent in the previous survey released last week. Lee's disapproval…",
  "key_points": [
    "Lee's approval rating rises to 45% from record low of 44%",
    "45% of respondents view Lee positively, 11% unsure",
    "Diplomacy cited as main reason for positive evaluations"
  ],
  "editors_take": "A slight uptick in President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating suggests a modest shift in public opinion, with diplomacy emerging as a key factor in positive evaluations of his performance.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Lee's approval rating inches up from record low to 45 pct: poll",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/lees-approval-rating-inches-up-from-record-low-to-45-pct-poll",
        "published": "2026-08-21T02:27:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Lee's approval rating inches up from record low to 45%: poll",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/lees-approval-rating-inches-up-from-record-low-to-45-poll-2287163",
        "published": "2026-08-21T03:22:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}