Published Aug 12, 2026, 1:24 pm KST — The Korea Times

It Is Time to Listen to the Public and Overhaul State Governance

President Lee Jae Myung's administration is confronting a clear warning signal from the South Korean public. While no single opinion poll should be treated as a definitive verdict on any government, the recent downward trend in support is difficult to ignore. Crucially, the decline is becoming apparent among politically decisive demographics, including moderates, younger voters, and residents of the Seoul metropolitan area — a region that accounts for roughly half of South Korea's population and frequently determines national electoral outcomes.

According to a poll conducted by Cho Won C&I from Saturday to Monday, 42.9 percent of respondents gave a positive evaluation of Lee's performance as president, while 54.1 percent expressed disapproval. Compared with the previous survey, his approval rating dropped 4.5 percentage points and disapproval climbed 4.6 points.

The shift was especially pronounced among voters in their 20s and 30s, as well as among moderates. Even among those in their 40s — traditionally a relatively supportive constituency for Lee — disapproval surpassed approval.

Regional figures paint an equally sobering picture. In Seoul, approval stood at just 37.2 percent, compared with 59.5 percent disapproval. In Incheon and Gyeonggi Province, disapproval also exceeded 50 percent.

These numbers should concern any administration, not because approval ratings are everything, but because they can indicate whether a government is losing touch with voters beyond its core political base.

Reforms Require Consensus, Not Momentum Alone

The appropriate response is not to attack the polls or blame the opposition. It is to listen.

The Lee administration has pursued legislative and institutional reforms aggressively, pushing contentious changes across areas ranging from the judiciary to taxation and real estate. South Korean presidents, who serve a single five-year term with no possibility of re-election, typically enjoy their greatest political capital in the early months of office, and there is a long pattern of administrations using that window to advance ambitious overhauls. Whatever the merits of individual policies, the government must recognize that governing by sheer political momentum can deepen public distrust. In a democracy, winning an election does not equate to receiving carte blanche for the remainder of a term. Major reforms require not only parliamentary power but also public persuasion, procedural legitimacy, and social consensus.

Economic policy demands the same humility. Housing and financial markets cannot simply be directed to behave according to government intentions. Frequent policy shifts, uncertainty over taxation, and concerns about housing supply can erode confidence among households, businesses, and investors. Housing affordability has been a politically volatile issue in South Korea across multiple administrations, and policy missteps in this area have historically carried significant electoral consequences. The government should focus less on demonstrating political resolve and more on establishing predictable rules and credible long-term policies.

Official Controversies Compound Concerns

Recent controversies involving government officials have intensified these concerns. The case of Kim Sang-ho, a senior presidential communications official who was dismissed following controversy over an illegally converted rental unit at a property he owned, is particularly damaging given the government's housing agenda. Kim has stated that the conversion predated his ownership and that he neither carried it out nor ordered it. Nevertheless, the episode raises legitimate questions about public officials' ethical responsibilities and whether the government applies to itself the same standards it imposes on ordinary citizens.

The same principle extends to youth housing. Young Koreans contending with soaring housing costs need safe, affordable homes — not improvised solutions that appear to trivialize their predicament. They require policies that address rent, supply, employment, and living conditions in a sustained and credible manner.

A Call for Humility and Course Correction

Lee still has time to change course. What his government needs now is not a more combative political strategy but a more humble one. The president must listen not only to his supporters but also to those who voted against him, those who have become disillusioned, and those who remain politically unaffiliated.

A strong government is not one that never admits mistakes. It is one capable of recognizing them and correcting them.

Lee should treat the latest polling not as an enemy to be defeated, but as a warning to be understood. If he responds with humility, policy discipline, and a genuine willingness to hear public concerns, this moment can become an opportunity for renewal.

The message from voters is increasingly clear: they do not need a government that insists it is always right. They need one willing to listen, learn, and change.

Source: The Korea Times