South Korean leader hits new low: What's behind president's ratings collapse?
South Korean president faces multiple issues from martial law mess-up to first lady scandals. His approval rating dropped to 13% this week while parliament prepares for impeachment vote
President Yoon Suk Yeol faces a tough-time in office as his approval rating hit 13% (the lowest ever recorded for a SK leader). The drop comes after a short-lived martial law declaration that lasted just 6 hours before parliament shot it down
His third-year quarterly ratings fell to 24%; way below former president Park Geun-hye who kept 40% support before her removal from office about 7 years ago. The numbers look even worse when compared to Roh Moo-hyuns 23% during his term
First lady Kim Keon Hee stays in hot-water due to various issues: accepting a designer-bag from a religious figure; stock-market problems with a car dealer company; and party nomination meddling. The president vetoed three times an opposition-backed bill for special investigation (saying the claims were false)
Here are other issues that hurt his popularity:
- A young marines death during flood rescue work
- Long-lasting doctors walk-out
- Hot-mic incident with US president
- Moving presidential office (cost about $40-mil)
A controversy about the marines death — who didnt have proper safety gear during the rescue mission — led to another vetoed probe bill. The president also got heat for relocating the presidential office: opposition said he rushed it and even claimed he got advice from a buddhist priest (which he denies)
