Approval ratings didn't rise — but partisan strife on social media only grew

President Lee Jae-myung's job approval rating has stopped falling since his press conference on the 18th of last month, but it remains stuck at 37%. The president is attempting to recover his approval rating by promoting policy achievements and expanding direct communication through social media, but analysts say that while social media outreach may help rally his base, it only aggravates partisan conflict and is unlikely to lead to a rebound in support.

President Lee increased his social media activity, posting on X on the 30th of last month that "social media is a direct channel of communication between me and the people." Can this increased social media presence become a breakthrough for his approval rating?

Kim Yoon-chul, a professor at Kyung Hee University's Humanties College, noted, "Given how much of the government's operations, such as State Council meetings, have already been opened to the public, it is hard to see insufficient publicity as the cause of the low approval rating," adding, "The expansion of social media is heading in a direction that highlights infighting within the ruling camp rather than promoting policy achievements." Eom Kyeong-young, director of the Sidae Jeongsin Research Institute, also pointed out, "The president is sending messages aimed at his own camp through social media, but a president directly addressing internal camp matters unrelated to the interests of the public at large is unlikely to help his approval rating."

Professor Kim diagnosed, "A proactive shift in policy direction, such as on real estate policy, is needed, but this is not happening," and "With new issues such as North Korea policy added to the mix, many voters are entering a wait-and-see mode."