Cho Kuk: "Lee Jae Myung’s Approval Rating Fell as a Result of Treating ‘Moon–Cho–Kim–Jung–Rhyu’ as Enemies"

[Financial News] Cho Kuk, head of the Innovation Research Institute at the Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP), sharply criticized the decline in President Lee Jae Myung’s approval rating, calling it "the result of a strategy to build a ‘structural majority’ centered on the ‘New Lee Jae Myung’ group—people newly entering the president’s support base."
On the 14th, Cho shared the results of a Realmeter poll released that day on Facebook and made the remarks.
Earlier that day, Realmeter released the results of a survey commissioned by Energy Economy Newspaper. The poll surveyed 2,515 people aged 18 or older nationwide from the 7th to the 11th. Lee’s positive rating for his handling of state affairs stood at 33.8%, the lowest since his inauguration and down 3.6 percentage points from the previous week. In contrast, his negative rating rose 3.8 percentage points from the previous week to 63.3%.
Lee’s approval rating for his handling of state affairs has declined for nine consecutive weeks, repeatedly reaching new lows.
Realmeter attributed the decline to spreading negative sentiment over key government issues, including controversy surrounding Cabinet appointments, consideration of deploying troops to the Strait of Hormuz, and uncertainty over real estate policy, despite recent summit diplomacy. It also cited a substantial exodus of progressive voters and people in their 20s.
The decline in the president’s approval rating also carried over to party support.
In a party support survey conducted by Realmeter among 1,003 people aged 18 or older nationwide from the 10th to the 11th, the People Power Party led the Democratic Party of Korea, with 42.1% support compared with 36.1%. This was the first time the People Power Party had led since a survey conducted on June 25–26. The RKP followed with 4.7%, while the Progressive Party and Reform Party each recorded 1.3%.
Cho criticized the result, saying, "It is the result of treating ‘Moon–Cho–Kim–Jung–Rhyu’—Moon Jae-in, Cho Kuk, Kim Ou-joon, Jung Cheong-rae, and Rhyu Si-min—as enemies. It is serious."
He continued, "Anyone who says that the ‘New Lee Jae Myung’ group alone can ensure success in governing, victory in the general election, and the re-creation of the administration is a sycophant. Anyone who denies the continuation of democratic governments and persistently drives a wedge within the camp is a traitor."
The survey was conducted using wireless automated response technology. The presidential approval survey had a margin of sampling error of ±2.0 percentage points at a 95% confidence level and a response rate of 4.5%. The party support survey had a margin of sampling error of ±3.1 percentage points at the same confidence level and a response rate of 3.6%. Further details are available on the website of the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission.
[email protected] Kim Soo-yeon Reporter