{"id":2206501,"date":"2024-09-17T08:00:55","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T23:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2206501"},"modified":"2024-09-16T17:14:12","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T08:14:12","slug":"yoon-faces-record-low-approval-suggesting-conservative-base-fracture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/09\/yoon-faces-record-low-approval-suggesting-conservative-base-fracture\/","title":{"rendered":"Yoon faces record-low approval, suggesting conservative base fracture"},"content":{"rendered":"
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol\u2019s approval rating has dropped to <\/span>20%<\/span><\/a>, according to Gallup Korea\u2019s latest poll, marking the lowest since he took office in May 2022. His negative assessment climbed to 70%, reflecting growing public discontent. Meanwhile, the ruling People Power Party\u2019s approval rating is 28%, and the main opposition Democratic Party\u2019s is 33%.<\/span><\/p>\n The drop in Yoon\u2019s approval marks the third consecutive week of ratings below 30%. Analysts point to eroding support from conservative voters, traditionally his base, as a significant factor in this trend. The poll surveyed 1,002 adults from Sept. 10 to 12, with a margin of error of \u00b13.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.<\/span><\/p>\n WHY IT MATTERS<\/b><\/p>\n Yoon\u2019s record-low approval rating likely means he will face significant challenges in pursuing his domestic agenda \u2014 particularly <\/span>pension reform<\/span><\/a>. His proposal to increase pension premiums at varying rates for different generations is central to his broader reform efforts. However, with his conservative base fracturing and widespread discontent over economic issues, Yoon faces an uphill battle to pass this and other crucial reforms.<\/span><\/p>\n Yoon\u2019s ability to adopt populist measures, such as cash vouchers, is limited as he has criticized the Democratic Party for pursuing such policies. Instead, Yoon may seek public favor through <\/span>structural economic reforms<\/span><\/a>, including additional support for small businesses and pushing for further deregulation measures. However, such measures have not been effective at turning Yoon\u2019s approval numbers around, and there is little to suggest that that trajectory may change in the foreseeable future.<\/span><\/p>\n