South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is ramping up his activity on social media platform X to engage more directly with the public as his approval ratings decline amid escalating political tensions. According to a recent national poll, Lee’s approval rating fell by 2.2 percentage points to 35.2%, while his disapproval rating rose to 61.4%. This decline reflects decreasing support across centrist, conservative, and progressive voters, signaling growing dissatisfaction with government policies and political disputes.
Criticism directed at President Lee centers around several issues, including personnel appointments, judicial independence, national security, and increasing housing costs in the Seoul metropolitan area. Within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, disagreements over prosecution reform have further fueled internal tensions. The party has also seen a significant drop in public support, falling seven percentage points to 35.5% in a separate survey. Meanwhile, the main opposition, the People Power Party, rose to 41.3%, reversing the standings from the previous week, although the difference remains within the margin of error.
In response to these challenges, President Lee has significantly increased his use of social media, particularly on X, to communicate government policies, address controversies, and showcase his administration’s accomplishments. The number of his posts jumped from 37 in August to 116 in September, with an additional 65 posts in October so far. Beyond social media, Lee has committed to expanding his direct engagement through press conferences, public debates, field visits, and livestreams.
However, some of Lee’s online remarks and personnel decisions have sparked criticism, including from his supporters, particularly concerning the direction of prosecution reform. Opposition leaders have questioned whether his heightened social media presence effectively addresses the broader public’s concerns or primarily targets his political allies. This debate unfolds as Lee endeavors to rebuild public support amid ongoing disputes over economic policy, national security, and judicial independence.