President Lee Jae-myung attends the second Emergency Economic Task Force (TF) meeting held at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, June 9, 2025 (Image provided by Presidential Office Pool Photo)
SEOUL, June 9 (Korea Bizwire) — Just days into his presidency, Lee Jae-myung is facing a cautiously optimistic public. According to a new Realmeter survey released Monday, nearly 6 in 10 South Koreans believe the newly inaugurated leader will perform well in managing state affairs. Yet the number reflects a more tempered confidence compared to the soaring expectations seen with past presidents in their first week on the job.
The poll, conducted last Wednesday and Thursday among 1,012 adults nationwide, found that 58.2 percent of respondents expect President Lee to do well in handling national matters. 35.5 percent expressed skepticism, while 6.3 percent said they were unsure.
While the majority support gives Lee a respectable political runway, Realmeter noted that his early approval trails behind his predecessors. For comparison, Lee Myung-bak entered office with 79.3 percent support, Moon Jae-in with 74.8 percent, Park Geun-hye with 64.4 percent, and even the ousted Yoon Suk Yeol with 52.7 percent. Lee’s current rating sits 5.5 percentage points higher than Yoon’s, but still signals a more cautious electorate.
President Lee Jae-myung speaks by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump on June 6, 2025, for the first time since he took office earlier in the week. (Yonhap)
Economy Tops Public Priorities
When asked what they considered the most urgent task for the new administration, 41.5 percent of respondents pointed to economic recovery and stabilization of daily livelihoods—a clear signal of public anxiety over inflation, unemployment, and the lingering effects of a sluggish economy. Another 20.4 percent highlighted judicial reform as a critical priority, reflecting ongoing debates over fairness and political accountability in the justice system.
“The result is a reflection of growing public concern over economic instability, the economic slowdown, and rising prices, and their significant impact on people’s lives,” Realmeter said in a statement.
President Lee Jae-myung enters a press briefing at the presidential office in Seoul on June 4, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Political Winds Shift
In tandem with Lee’s inauguration, political momentum appears to be shifting. The approval rating for the ruling Democratic Party (DP) rose to 48 percent, a 1.2-point gain from the previous week. Meanwhile, the People Power Party (PPP), now in the opposition, dipped slightly to 34.8 percent, widening the gap between the two main parties to 13.2 percentage points.
President Lee took office on June 4, following an extraordinary snap election that was triggered by the impeachment and removal of former President Yoon Suk Yeol. As Lee settles into the Blue House, the next few months will likely prove pivotal—not just for his administration, but for a nation watching closely to see whether cautious optimism can turn into real trust.
The survey carries a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
