In the latest National Barometer Survey (NBS) of 1,000 adults nationwide, conducted jointly earlier this week by pollsters Embrain Public, Hankook Research, Korea Research and Kstat Research, 49 percent disapproved of Lee's job performance, down 1 percentage point from the previous poll.
Seven percent were undecided or declined to answer.
Despite the slight rebound from 43 percent, his lowest approval rating since taking office in June last year, disapproval continued to outpace approval overall. Trust in the Lee administration was also split, with 47 percent saying they trusted the government and 48 percent saying they did not.
Negative responses outnumbered positive ones among all age groups except respondents in their 40s and 50s. In terms of political leanings, positive views were more prevalent among liberals, while negative views predominated among conservatives. Among moderates, 48 percent viewed the Lee administration favorably, compared with 45 percent who viewed it negatively.
Meanwhile, support for the ruling Democratic Party (DP) fell by two percentage points to 33 percent, while the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) gained three points to 28 percent.
Regarding the recent land mine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), some 65 percent of respondents said South Korea should take a firm stance toward North Korea.
The survey, which allowed multiple responses, also found that 73 percent of respondents prioritized economic growth over income distribution.
Some 52 percent said the government should use an estimated 63 trillion won (about US$47 billion) in excess tax revenue to reduce public debt, while 46 percent favored investing in future industries and preparing for potential crises.
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