Moon's approval and disapproval ratings statistically equal

President Moon Jae-in presides over a weekly meeting of senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae, Monday. / Yonhap

By Yi Whan-woo

President Moon Jae-in's approval rating has barely outrun his disapproval rating for three consecutive weeks, a poll showed Friday, amid a recent surge in COVID-19 cases.

In the poll of 1,002 adults conducted by Gallup Korea from Sept. 1 to 3, 45 percent of respondents positively assessed the President's job performance while 44 percent had a negative view.

Moon's job approval ratings led disapproval ratings 47 percent to 43 percent a week earlier, and 47 percent to 45 percent two weeks ago.

Each of the three polls had a 3.1 percent margin of error.

Among this week's survey takers who believed Moon is doing a good job, 44 percent attributed the assessment to the government's response to a rise in new coronavirus cases.

Nine percent said Moon should be lauded for “stability” in state management while 6 percent said he “is doing his best.”

Of those who negatively assessed Moon's job performances, 19 percent said it was because of the latest real estate policy fiasco while 9 percent said the President “is generally incapable of” state management, and 8 percent said he “falls short” in coping with the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea had approval ratings of 39 percent support against the newly rebranded main opposition People's Power Party's at 20 percent

Two of the three minor oppositions ― the Justice Party and People's Party ― received support of 4 percent, while the Open Democratic Party garnered 3 percent.