Lee's approval rating around mid-30 pct after first year: polls

SEOUL, Feb. 23 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak's approval ratings measured in
the mid 30-percent range, polls released on Monday showed, with discontent
prevalent over economic conditions as he marks the first year anniversary of his
administration.

The numbers are close to half of what Lee had when he took office but a surge
compared to last summer when his government was challenged by months of protests.

In a Gallup Korea survey conducted on Saturday on 1,020 adults at the request of
daily Chosun Ilbo, 33.5 percent of respondents said that Lee was "doing well"
compared to 55 percent who answered "not doing well."
A former Hyundai CEO, Lee was elected by the largest margin of victory in Korea's
recent history in December 2007. His ratings, initially well above 50 percent,
later dropped to as low as 10-percent range following controversial policy
decisions, such as the resumption of U.S. beef imports, police crackdown on
protesters and real estate tax policies in favor of high-end home owners.
The latest approval findings come as South Korea's economy, Asia's fourth
largest, faces its first recession in 11 years as exports, the main growth
driver, are faltering with domestic demand remaining sluggish.
The survey showed that 44.4 percent of respondents were satisfied with Lee's
foreign policy but only a little over 22 percent believe the president was doing
well in terms of economic policies. Approval for education policies and political
stability barely managed to stay above the 20- percent mark.
A separate Hyundai Research Institute poll of 1,000 adults, held also on Saturday
at the request of daily Kyunghyang Shinmun, said 32.7 of the respondents gave
positive ratings for Lee while 62.2 percent were dissatisfied with the
president's first year.
The poll said that management of the economy was the most faulted with 37.4
percent, followed by domestic politics (17.8 percent) and inter-Korean relations
(15.2 percent).
A poll by Hankook Research on Feb. 9-10, conducted at the request of daily
JoonAng Ilbo, said Lee had an 32.2-percent approval rating, less than half of the
65.8-percent rating he received just after his inauguration a year ago.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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