South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is ramping up his presence on social media platform X in an effort to directly engage with the public as he grapples with declining approval ratings and political challenges. Recent national polling data reveals a 2.2 percentage point drop in his approval to 35.2%, while disapproval has risen to 61.4%. This downward trend reflects growing dissatisfaction across the political spectrum, including among centrist, conservative, and progressive voters, due to ongoing government policies and political disputes.
President Lee’s administration has faced criticism on various fronts, including personnel appointments, judicial independence, national security, and the escalating housing costs in the Seoul metropolitan area. Additionally, internal disagreements over prosecution reform have heightened tensions within the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.
The political landscape has seen shifts, with the ruling party experiencing a significant decline in public support, dropping seven percentage points to 35.5% in a separate survey. In contrast, the main opposition People Power Party has risen to 41.3%, reversing the standings from the previous week, although the difference remains within the survey’s margin of error.
Amid these challenges, President Lee has increased his use of social media, posting 116 times in September compared to 37 in August, and continuing this trend with 65 posts in October. These posts aim to explain government policies, address political controversies, and showcase his administration’s activities. Besides his social media efforts, Lee has committed to enhancing public engagement through press conferences, public debates, field visits, and livestreams.
However, some of his online comments and decisions have sparked criticism, including disagreements with supporters regarding prosecution reform. Opposition leaders have questioned the effectiveness of his social media strategy, suggesting it may primarily engage political allies rather than addressing broader public concerns.
As President Lee seeks to rebuild public support amid ongoing disputes over economic policy, national security, and judicial independence, the debate over his approach to communication and policy remains a critical aspect of his administration’s strategy.