Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is actively engaging with the public on livelihood issues as the party seeks to reverse its low approval ratings. His emphasis on 'livelihood' appears to be a strategy to shift the political landscape and regain support.
On the morning of September 29, Kim visited the subway train depot in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, to hear from on-site workers. He has committed to visiting livelihood sites every morning, having previously toured a city bus garage on September 21, a wholesale agricultural and fish market on September 23, and an environmental public service workplace the day before.
The Democratic Party is also focusing on the needs of the public. During a Supreme Council meeting the previous day, Kim stated, "We will sincerely respond to the public's demand for prioritizing achievements in livelihood issues." Floor leader Han Byeong-do emphasized that the party's strategy for the regular National Assembly session will be "first, second, and third, livelihood," pledging to concentrate all legislative and budgetary efforts on reducing the public's burden and paving the way for future industries.
Kim's actions come as President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party face declining approval ratings. A party official told Aju Economy, "Caring for the public's livelihood is a natural responsibility for the ruling party," adding that they are emphasizing a united front among the party, government, and Blue House to effectively address political issues.
President Lee's approval rating has seen a decline for ten consecutive weeks but showed a slight rebound last week, with negative evaluations still exceeding 60%. The Democratic Party, which was previously well ahead of the People Power Party, is now in a tight race within the margin of error.
A survey conducted by Realmeter on behalf of the Energy Economy Newspaper from September 21 to 23 found that 37.9% of respondents approved of President Lee's performance, a 3.1 percentage point increase from the previous week, while disapproval stood at 60.1% (margin of error 95% confidence level ±2.5%, response rate 3.8%).
In the same survey, party support showed the Democratic Party at 38.7% and the People Power Party at 39.4%, indicating a competitive race within the margin of error. This survey was conducted from September 22 to 23 among 1,005 eligible voters aged 18 and older (margin of error 95% confidence level ±3.1%, response rate 3.5%, both surveys conducted via 100% automated response system).
Experts agree that for the Democratic Party to improve its approval ratings, it is crucial not only to address livelihood issues but also to achieve results through legislation.
Political analyst Choi Yo-han attributed the party's declining support to the ruling party's failure to act like a ruling party, noting that internal conflicts over government-led prosecutorial reforms and power struggles have disappointed the public. He emphasized that Kim's focus on livelihood issues must be accompanied by consistent communication with the public.
Another political analyst, Park Sang-byeong, stated that the party's approval ratings will rise when it delivers legislative results that meet public expectations during the regular National Assembly session, stressing the importance of avoiding controversial statements from the party leader.
Meanwhile, Kim is also working on organizational improvements by launching a special party body called 'Mega 12' to focus on achieving results. He plans to begin live broadcasts of reports from the party's secretariat, standing committees, task forces, and local party organizations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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