South Korean President Lee Myung-bak’s approval numbers are now in Roh Moo-hyun range:

President Lee should realize that more and more people are turning their back against his administration. It is urgent for him to take radical action to win back the hearts and minds of the people before it is too late. A recent survey jointly conducted by the Chosun Ilbo, one of the leading Korean dailies, and Gallup Korea showed that Lee’s approval rating had nose-dived to 21.2 percent from 52 percent in early March. And 21.3 percent of the respondents said they do not back Lee because they believe he refuses to listen to people. [Korea Times]

Here is the most ironic aspect of these approval ratings:

According to the poll, 16.2 percent withheld their support for the President due to soaring consumer prices which they claim are deepening their financial hardship.

President Lee’s approval ratings dropped because of his attempts to reduce consumer prices by supporting the passing of the US-ROK FTA which would drop soaring prices such as the high price of beef in Korea. But as Sohn Hak-kyu says it is public perception not rational judgement that matters.