Lee Administration's Approval Plummets in Seoul Amid Worsening Public Sentiment
KSOI Poll Shows 'Warning Signs' for Lee Jae-myung Government's Popularity in Seoul; 49% Express Negative Assessment
A poll conducted by KSOI (Korea Society Opinion Institute) at the request of CBS Nocut News reveals mixed evaluations from Seoul residents regarding the Lee Jae-myung administration's handling of state affairs. The survey, conducted from October 25th to 26th, 2025, involved 812 men and women aged 18 and older residing in Seoul. 49.0% of respondents expressed negative opinions about Lee Jae-myung's performance, while 47.2% held positive views. This suggests a deeply divided public sentiment in Seoul towards the Lee administration. The results are drawing particular attention in light of the government's recently announced real estate policies. The poll results were reported by Digital Times and Munhwa Ilbo.
In the party support survey, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) recorded the highest approval rating at 38%, followed by the People Power Party (PPP) at 36.7%. The New Reform Party garnered 3.8%, the Progressive Party 1.3%, and the Rebuilding Korea Party 1.2%. 15.7% of respondents identified as unaffiliated voters. This indicates a continued distrust of the political establishment among voters, while also suggesting potential shifts in the political landscape. With the upcoming local elections next year, the leanings of these unaffiliated voters will be a key factor. Each party is expected to intensify its efforts to win over these voters through policy development and image improvement.
The survey also assessed opinions on the government's 10/15 real estate policy. 54.6% of respondents felt the policy would 'not help' stabilize the Seoul real estate market, while a relatively smaller percentage believed it would 'help.' This reveals persistent public skepticism about the government's real estate policies and raises questions about their effectiveness. The ongoing rise in Seoul housing prices has fueled even stronger criticism of the government's measures. The government is likely to consider additional policies to stabilize the real estate market.
In a survey of potential Seoul mayoral candidates, incumbent Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the conservative bloc received the highest support at 25.6%. Among potential DPK candidates, Representative Park Joo-min garnered 10.5%, followed by Representatives Seo Young-kyo and Seongdong-gu District Head Jung Won-oh, each with 9.6%. In a hypothetical head-to-head matchup, Mayor Oh Se-hoon led Representative Park Joo-min with 36.1% to 29.2%. This suggests that the conservative forces remain strong in the Seoul mayoral election. However, with time remaining before next year's local elections, each candidate is expected to focus on raising their profile and competing on policy to secure votes. The votes of young people and unaffiliated voters are expected to have a significant impact on the election outcome.
This KSOI poll was conducted using a 100% wireless Automated Response System (ARS) method, with a response rate of 5.1% and a margin of error of ±3.4 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. The low response rate raises concerns about the representativeness of the poll results. Considering the margin of error, the difference between positive and negative assessments is not significant, indicating that public sentiment in Seoul is currently unstable and fluid. Public opinion could shift at any time depending on changes in the political situation, requiring continuous monitoring and analysis. Each party and politician must closely observe the trends in public opinion and make every effort to win public support.
