President Lee Jae-myung issued a public apology on social media after new polling showed his national approval rating fell to 50.4% [1].
The decline follows the June 3 local elections and suggests a significant shift in public sentiment toward the administration's current direction.
Lee released the statement while on a 10-day diplomatic tour of Europe [3]. In the post, the president expressed regret over the drop in support and promised to govern with a more modest approach. "I am sorry to the people," Lee said [4].
The apology came shortly after the release of a poll conducted from June 8 to June 9, 2024 [2]. The survey, which used an automated telephone response system across the country, sampled 1,002 participants [1].
According to the data, the president's approval rating plummeted by 9.4 percentage points [1]. This sharp decrease marks a notable decline in public confidence following the recent local election cycle.
Lee indicated that he intends to change his leadership style to better reflect the will of the voters. He said he would work harder with a "lower and more humble posture" [5]. He also emphasized the need for a broader, and more inclusive approach to governance, stating he would seek to be "wider, [and] inclusive" [6].
The timing of the apology is notable as it occurred while the president was abroad. The administration now faces the challenge of addressing the grievances that led to the 9.4 percentage point [1] drop while managing international diplomatic engagements.
“"I am sorry to the people,"”
The sharp decline in approval ratings immediately following local elections indicates that voters may be using regional ballots to signal dissatisfaction with national leadership. By issuing an apology during a foreign tour, Lee is attempting to preempt further political instability and signal a willingness to pivot his policy approach before returning to Seoul.
