**Party Support: Democratic Party 40%, People Power Party 26%**
President Lee Jae-myung is exiting the main assembly hall after delivering a policy speech on the government’s 2026 budget proposal at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and is seen greeting Jeong Cheong-rae, the head of the Democratic Party, and others.
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The survey results showed that 62% of respondents believed a special investigation should be introduced regarding the Unification Church-related suspicions. Even among Democratic Party supporters, 67% were in favor. While the Democratic Party is opposed to the idea of a special investigation, their own supporters and those with progressive views seem to favor it more. President Lee Jae-myung’s approval rating stands at 55%, a 1 percentage point decrease from the previous survey.
According to a poll conducted by Gallup Korea from the 16th to the 18th, surveying 1,001 voters aged 18 and over nationwide, 62% thought a special investigation should be introduced. Those who thought it was unnecessary accounted for 22%, and 16% withheld their opinions.
Differences in opinions according to political leanings or party affiliations were minimal. In fact, Democratic supporters and voters with progressive leanings felt even more strongly about the need for a special probe. Among those who identified as progressive, 67% were in favor of a probe, followed by 65% of moderates, and 61% of conservatives. Opinions against the need were 28%, 19%, and 26%, respectively. By party, 67% of Democratic supporters favored it, higher than supporters of the People Power Party (60%) or those without party affiliation (50%). Opposition to the idea was 22%, 24%, and 19%, respectively.
There were also no significant regional or age differences. Support for a special probe exceeded 60% in all regions and age groups except Seoul (59%) and those in their 20s (54%) and 70s and older (47%). Among the Democrats’ primary supporters in their 40s, 76% were in favor.
Regarding President Lee’s job performance, 55% rated it positively, a 1 percentage point decrease from the previous survey. The negative assessment increased by 2 percentage points to 36%, with 9% withholding opinions.
Among those who rated the president positively, reasons included ‘communication, cabinet meetings, briefings’ (18%), ‘diplomacy’ (15%), ‘economy and livelihood’ (11%), ‘job ability and competence,’ ‘overall good performance’ (both 10%), ‘overcoming the previous government’ (4%), ‘hard work and dedication,’ ‘initiative and execution’ (both 3%).
Those who rated the president negatively mentioned ‘economy and livelihood’ (18%), ‘moral issues and personal trial evasion’ (11%), ‘dictatorship and unilateralism,’ ‘overall poor performance’ (both 7%), ‘diplomacy’ (5%), ‘excessive welfare and livelihood support funds’ (4%), ‘real estate policy and loan regulations,’ ‘lack of unity and cooperation,’ ‘political revenge,’ ‘arbitrary law amendments,’ ‘dishonesty and lying,’ ‘left-leaning,’ ‘pro-China policy and visa-free entry for Chinese’ (all 3%).
In terms of party support, the Democratic Party had 40%, with the People Power Party at 26%, resulting in a 14 percentage point gap. The Reform New Party followed at 4%, the Progressive Party at 3%, and other parties at 1%. Those with no party affiliation stood at 26%.
This survey was conducted through random selection of mobile phone numbers provided by the three telecommunications companies and interviews by telephone surveyors. The margin of error is ±3.1 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, and the response rate was 10.8%. Further details can be found on the website of the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission.