President Lee Jae-myung’s approval rating fell for a ninth consecutive week to 33.8%, the lowest since he took office, while negative evaluations rose to 63.3%, according to a Realmeter poll commissioned by EKN. The survey of 2,515 adults was conducted from Monday to Friday. Realmeter linked the decline to controversy over Lee’s Cabinet reshuffle, possible deployment of military assets to the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty over real estate policy, alongside weaker support among liberal voters and people in their 20s. Gender Equality Minister nominee Yong Hye-in withdrew after criticism over alleged nepotism and her plan to retain her proportional-representation seat, while Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won faced allegations over lobbying related to approval of a Covid-19 treatment in 2021. In a separate survey, People Power Party support rose to 42.1%, overtaking Democratic Party support at 36.1% for the first time in 11 weeks.