President Lee Jae Myung Approval Rating Hits 61% Following China State Visit
President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating reached 61% in the latest NBS survey on Jan 8, 2026. The increase follows his state visit to China and strong support for his economic policies.
Six out of ten South Koreans support the current administration's direction. President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating climbed to 61%, buoyed by his recent diplomatic efforts in Beijing and popular economic support measures.
President Lee Jae Myung Approval Rating 61% in Latest NBS Poll
According to the National Barometer Survey (NBS) released on Thursday, January 8, positive assessment of the president's performance rose 2 percentage points from two weeks ago. Meanwhile, negative sentiment dropped to 29%. While the ruling Democratic Party saw a slight dip to 39%, the main opposition People Power Party gained ground, reaching 23%.
Policy Approval and the China Dilemma
Domestic economic policies remain a strong pillar for the administration. Support for vulnerable groups received a high approval of 62%, followed by policies for small and medium-sized enterprises at 50%. These figures suggest that the government's focus on the social safety net is resonating with the public. However, the nation remains divided on foreign policy. Roughly 48% of respondents believe Seoul should distance itself from Beijing to prioritize the South Korea–U.S. alliance, while 46% favor maintaining friendly ties for economic interests.
The poll comes immediately after President Lee's four-day visit to China, where he met with President Xi Jinping to coordinate on North Korean peace efforts. The survey involved 1,005 participants and has a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points.
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