Support Rating Falls to 45.9%, a Low for President Lee Jae-myung's Term, Amid Battle Over Abolishing Prosecutorial Supplementary Investigation Authority

45.9% Approval Rating, Lowest in Term… Stock Market Crash Rocks Political Landscape

A Realmeter survey puts President Lee Jae-myung’s job approval at 45.9%, marking the lowest since he took office. The poll, conducted from the 27th to the 31st of last month among 2,508 adults nationwide, highlighted a notable exodus of centrist voters. The numbers confirm a fracture in the public support that was solid early in the administration. The primary cause is identified as the economic anxiety triggered by the recent stock market slump. The extreme volatility, dubbed 'Kospi Rollercoaster,' is translating from a purely economic phenomenon into a decline in political trust. Massive investor losses are becoming a direct metric for evaluating the ruling administration. This explains why the president convened an emergency meeting at the Blue House immediately upon returning to office to review real estate and stock market conditions. He ordered swift supplementary measures to cushion the market shock related to leveraged ETFs and other investment products in an attempt to soothe public unrest.

Political Clash Over Abolishing Prosecutorial Supplementary Investigation Authority

Another axis of the declining approval is the extreme standoff over judicial reform. The political climate has chilled rapidly following the National Assembly’s passage of a bill to completely abolish the prosecution’s supplementary investigation authority—the core of the criminal justice system overhaul for the first time in 72 years. The legislation removes the ability of prosecutors to reinvestigate cases handed over by the police. The People Power Party condemns the measure as 'an evil law designed only for criminals and a sitting president,' strongly urging a presidential veto. The opposition is aggressively framing the criminal procedure code revision as hasty legislation intended to shield specific politicians from legal risks. Conversely, the ruling Democratic Party emphasizes the reform as an institutional check on the prosecution’s excessive power and a move to separate investigation from indictment. President Lee himself has previously stated that supplementary investigation authority is necessary in exceptional circumstances, leading to minor dissent within the party. Some have even openly voiced opposition, citing potential controversies regarding the dismissal of indictments by independent counsel. However, the ruling party’s bold move to enforce the party line is interpreted as an attempt to solidify the justification for prosecutorial reform. This issue is expected to emerge as the biggest point of contention during the Ministry of Justice briefing following the president's return.

Crossroads Between Diplomatic Success and Domestic Political Risk

The diplomatic and economic achievements secured during overseas visits are currently insufficient to fully offset the domestic political instability, given the weight of current economic and judicial risks.

President Lee returns to state duties immediately on the 3rd, concluding a 7-night, 11-day tour of the U.S., South America, and Germany. Skipping his summer vacation, he is set to preside over a Cabinet meeting on the 4th and receive briefings from key ministries, including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, to address the crisis. Diplomatically, the tour is evaluated as a significant success. In San Francisco, he met with key figures in the global AI industry, including NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, laying the groundwork for an AI alliance worth 1,375 trillion won. During the tour of three South American nations, he secured security and economic gains by diversifying crude oil import sources and securing critical mineral supply chains. However, these diplomatic wins appear unlikely to immediately overshadow the economic damage and political confusion unfolding at home. The Realmeter poll put party support at 45.1% for the Democratic Party and 37.7% for the People Power Party. While the ruling party maintains the lead, the stock market crash and controversies over constitutional amendments for a second term are creating a snowball effect driving down approval ratings. The People Power Party is gathering strength, with former President Park Geun-hye’s visit to the Yeongnam region helping to consolidate the conservative base.

Crisis Management to be Litmus Test for Administration

Ultimately, the future political trajectory depends on the president’s practical crisis response capabilities. Detailed financial follow-up measures to absorb market shocks must materialize to prevent the erosion of public support due to the stock market crash. Simultaneously, the administration must present persuasive arguments to ensure that the judicial reform—stripping prosecutors of their investigative powers before the police's independent investigative capabilities are fully verified—does not stoke public unease. A political sense of balance is demanded more than ever to capture both economic stability and judicial reform. The success or failure of President Lee’s strategy to defend his approval ratings will likely hinge on the speed of market stabilization and the formation of a national consensus regarding prosecutorial reform.