Lee Jae-myung's Approval Rating Plummets to 30s...Criticism of Government Failures

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, had a positive evaluation of 38.9% and a negative evaluation of 58.7%. According to Realmeter, this is the lowest rating for Lee since he took office.

Furthermore, negative evaluations showed an upward trend for five consecutive weeks, indicating deepening public distrust in Lee.

Realmeter analyzed that Lee's declining approval rating was caused by various complex issues. A major factor cited was the worsening public sentiment regarding real estate.

The controversy over the unconstitutionality surrounding the refusal to appoint a Supreme Court justice nominee and public distrust in the police stemming from the Jeju missing persons case also affected the approval rating decline. Furthermore, remarks by writer Yoo Si-min and internal conflicts within the ruling party also played complex roles.

The Democratic Party consistently advocated for the abolition of the prosecution's investigative powers to rally pro-Lee Jae-myung forces. This was used as a major agenda item at the Democratic Party's national convention to emphasize their commitment to prosecutorial reform.

However, the promotion of such policies worsened public opinion and worked against the Democratic Party at an inopportune time.

The inadequate response by the police in handling the missing persons case that occurred on Jeju Island significantly eroded public trust. The police were criticized for mishandling and closing over 200 missing persons cases without proper investigation.

In particular, the discrepancy between the autopsy results and the police's initial statements intensified public anxiety about public authority. This situation led to a lack of trust in the police and brought the necessity of the prosecution back into focus.

It is argued that weakening prosecutorial investigative powers virtually leads to the privatization of the public security and judicial systems. Concerns are raised that in the past, victims could receive free legal services from the prosecution, but now they might have to hire a private lawyer at their own expense.

This criticism suggests that crime victims could face difficulties accessing legal services, potentially leading to a fundamental collapse of the public security system.

An analysis suggests a repeating pattern: when progressive governments push excessive policies ignoring public opinion, leading to negative side effects and falling approval ratings, the government is replaced. Subsequently, conservative governments take power, addressing the policy failures of the previous administration and implementing austerity measures.

However, this recovery process often frustrates the public, leading to a vicious cycle where conservative governments' approval ratings also decline. The case of Gyeonggi Province, where a progressive government's long tenure led to financial depletion, was mentioned.

It is predicted that if Lee Jae-myung's approval rating continues to fall, an 'anti-Lee' movement will emerge within the Democratic Party, shifting all responsibility to him. This could lead to distrust in Lee and the Democratic Party through the general and presidential elections.

Citing the example of how the political sphere changed its attitude after the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun, it was pointed out that Democratic Party lawmakers are highly likely to turn their backs on Lee in a period of declining approval. This evasion of responsibility, it was warned, could further erode public trust.

An unusual situation has arisen where the Democratic Party of Korea launched 'Democratic Party TV' at the same time as Kim Eo-jun's broadcast. This is considered the first instance of the Democratic Party camp directly competing with a YouTube broadcast.

Kim Eo-jun's broadcast has led public discourse, consumed by Democratic Party supporters almost like religious sermons. The purpose of 'Democratic Party TV' is analyzed to go beyond simple viewership competition, aiming to rally supporters and repeatedly deliver specific messages to strengthen indoctrination effects.

Kim Eo-jun's broadcast's success is attributed to the nascent stage of new media like YouTube and podcasts, where social regulations and consensus were lacking. This environment allowed for the unfiltered dissemination of sensational conspiracy theories that traditional media would struggle to cover, thereby captivating the public.

Freed from the minimal journalistic responsibility of fact-checking, it reproduced provocative content by raising unverified suspicions such as the Fukushima nuclear wastewater issue and pocket notes from martial law times.

Criticism was directed at Kim Min-seok's misjudgment in managing the Democratic Party's official YouTube channel and the public's avoidance of government-controlled broadcasting. It is noted that the public has a negative perception of broadcasts directly operated by the government or political parties.

Concerns were raised that the official channel is likely to be shunned by the public due to its rigid presentation, lack of entertainment, and absence of spontaneity.

Criticism emerged that Kim Min-seok's public relations strategy is outdated. In particular, the attempt to emulate Steve Jobs' presentation style 15 years later was deemed anachronistic.

It was pointed out that merely jumping into YouTube because it's popular, without understanding its characteristics of requiring entertainment and communication, is an old-fashioned approach likely to fail.

It is predicted that news outlets will publish articles comparing the viewership of Democratic Party TV with Kim Eo-jun's broadcast. This is expected to be a significant indicator of the influence and reach of both channels.

The People Power Party's supreme council has approved the introduction of direct elections for party members. Accordingly, the 34 problematic district chapters will first open for applications, and party members will directly elect their district chapter chairs.

This is interpreted as a strategy to prevent backlash from existing district chapter chairs and to ensure fair elections through party audits. It reflects a commitment to strengthening intra-party democracy and discovering new talent.

It was suggested that the current district chapter chairs' compliance with the introduction of direct elections for party members could be a temporary compromise. It was predicted that while they might remain silent for now, they are likely to resist if their positions are threatened by future party audits or other issues.

This negotiation is also analyzed as a backdrop for strengthening Representative Jang Dong-hyeok's position.

It was argued that for reform, it is more important to take realistic steps forward rather than overthrowing everything with overwhelming force. The introduction of direct elections for party members is also evaluated as having symbolic significance in this context.

The explanation is that even if it's difficult to change everything immediately, gradually building the foundation for reform through incremental changes is a realistic approach.

The Reform Party stated that it cannot have an emergency response committee (ERC) system under its party constitution and rules. This is to clarify the party's operating principles and prevent a transition to an ERC in specific situations.

Therefore, if the party leadership becomes vacant, it has a principle of holding a national convention within 60 days to elect a new leader.

It was pointed out that third parties commonly suffer from a scarcity of human resources. They are overly reliant on a few members with outstanding individual skills, which was likened to a football team entrusting everything to a few ace players.

This structure makes rotation virtually impossible and possesses a vulnerability where the entire party could suffer a fatal blow if key figures are removed.

Criticism has been raised that the current government is repeating various failures, such as failing to manage inflation and inadequate incident investigations, leading the country to an abnormal state. This national disarray is increasing public anxiety about their right to life and safety.

The public expresses great concern that the government is neglecting livelihoods and failing to ensure even basic public order and safety, strongly urging political leaders to heed the public's sentiments and normalize the nation.