Dec 3 2025 – Former President Yoon Suk‑yeol attempts to impose martial law, a crisis that triggers a snap parliamentary election in June 2025 and frames the political backdrop for Lee Jae Myung’s presidency [19].

Dec 4‑5 2025 – Lee Jae Myung reaches a 62 % approval rating in a Gallup Korea poll, the highest since his first week in office, with diplomacy cited by 32 % of respondents as the top positive factor and the economy by 14 % [19].

Dec 8 2025 – A National Barometer Survey shows Lee’s approval rise to 61 % and negative view fall to 29 %; party support splits with the Democratic Party at 39 % and the People Power Party at 23 %, while public opinion on China ties is nearly evenly divided (48 % favor distancing, 46 % favor friendly ties) [10].

Dec 14 2025 – Realmeter reports Lee’s approval slipping to 54.3 % amid allegations that former Oceans Minister Chun Jae‑soo received illegal funds from the Unification Church, marking the first cabinet resignation under Lee’s administration [17].

Dec 18 2025 – Gallup Korea records a third‑straight weekly decline to 55 % approval, noting that live‑broadcast policy briefings and diplomacy are praised, but economic concerns dominate negative feedback [16].

Dec 21‑22 2025 – Realmeter polls show approval at 53.4 % with live briefings viewed positively but criticism of Lee Hak‑jae (Incheon Airport head), a Coupang data breach, and a weak won dragging sentiment; the Democratic Party falls to 44.1 % while the People Power Party rises to 37.2 % [15].

Dec 22 2025 – The Democratic Party backs a special‑counsel probe into the Unification Church’s alleged bribery, the Fair Trade Commission orders Korean Air to revise its mileage plan, BTS teases a major 2026 release, Samsung Biologics agrees to buy GSK’s U.S. facility (completion early 2026), and Hyundai announces an AI‑robotics showcase at CES 2026 [14].

Dec 25 2025 – National Barometer Survey finds Lee’s approval at 59 % with a regional outlier in Daegu; Democratic Party support slips to 41 % while the People Power Party holds at 20 %; 53 % of respondents say 2025 will be a bad year personally, but 44 % hope 2026 improves [13].

Dec 29 2025 – Realmeter shows Lee’s approval steady at 53.2 % after seven weeks of little change; voters favor his economic incentives for retail investors, while controversial Democratic Party bills on a special tribunal and anti‑fake‑news law weigh on his rating [12].

Jan 5 2026 – Realmeter reports Lee’s approval climbing to 54.1 % as the KOSPI tops 4,300 and exports hit a record, with the Democratic Party at 45.7 % and the People Power Party at 35.5 % [11].

Jan 8 2026 – A National Barometer Survey shows Lee’s approval edge up to 61 % following his four‑day state visit to China, while negative assessments drop to 29 %; party support diverges with the Democratic Party at 39 % and the People Power Party at 23 % [10].

Jan 9 2026 – Gallup Korea poll registers Lee’s approval at 60 %, driven largely by diplomacy (30 % of positive responses) after his recent summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping; party backing stands at 45 % for the Democrats and 26 % for the People Power Party [9].

Jan 12 2026 – Realmeter finds Lee’s approval at 56.8 % (up 2.7 points) as voters credit diplomatic gains with China and a bullish stock market, while the Democratic Party rises to 47.8 % and the People Power Party falls to 33.5 % [8].

Jan 16 2026 – Gallup Korea reports Lee’s approval slipping to 58 % despite recent China and Japan trips, with diplomacy still the top positive reason (36 %) but economic concerns driving 26 % of negative views; the Democratic Party falls to 41 % and the People Power Party to 24 % [7].

Jan 19 2026 – Realmeter shows Lee’s approval dropping to 53.1 % amid backlash over prosecution reforms and alleged illicit payments tied to Democratic Party nominations; the Democratic Party’s support falls to 42.5 % while the People Power Party climbs to 37 % [6].

Jan 21 2026 – Lee delivers a New Year press conference that temporarily lifts his standing, coinciding with the KOSPI surpassing the 5,000‑point milestone [3].

Jan 22 2026 – National Barometer Survey records Lee’s approval at 59 % with 50 % of respondents favoring stronger ties with China and 65 % supporting deeper relations with Japan; the Democratic Party gains to 40 % while the People Power Party slips to 20 % [5].

Jan 23 2026 – Gallup Korea poll shows Lee’s approval rise to 61 % as diplomacy trips to China and Japan boost his image; the Democratic Party climbs to 43 % and the People Power Party falls to 22 % [4].

Jan 26 2026 – Realmeter reports Lee’s approval steady at 53.1 % after the KOSPI exceeds 5,000 and a New Year press boost, but the withdrawal of budget‑minister nominee Lee Hye‑hoon over real‑estate scandal dampens momentum; the Democratic Party’s merger proposal with the Rebuilding Korea Party sparks internal debate [3].

Jan 30 2026 – Gallup Korea poll notes Lee’s approval slipping to 60 % (down 1 point) with the economy cited as the leading positive factor (19 %) and economic worries as the main negative driver (21 %); the Democratic Party rises to 44 % and the People Power Party to 25 % [2].

Feb 5 2026 – National Barometer Survey shows Lee’s approval climbing to a six‑month high of 63 % and negative view falling to 30 %; Democratic Party support edges to 41 % while 52 % of voters say they should back the ruling party for stability in the upcoming June 2026 local elections, and 44 % oppose the proposed DP‑Rebuilding Korea merger [1].