Lee's approval rating drops to 59%

President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech marking the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day during a ceremony held at the Sejong Center for Performing Arts in Seoul, Friday. Joint Press Corps

President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating dropped to 59 percent, a survey showed Friday, amid controversy over his first round of special pardons for political figures.

In the Gallup Korea survey of 1,007 adults conducted from Tuesday to Thursday, the positive assessment of Lee's performance fell 5 percentage points from the previous poll conducted in mid-July, while the negative assessment of Lee stood at 30 percent.

Respondents cited Lee's special amnesty for political figures and businesspeople, as well as his excessive welfare and livelihood support, as reasons for their negative assessment.

The approval rating for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea fell 5 percentage points to 41 percent, while support for the main opposition People Power Party increased 3 percentage points to 22 percent.

The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

On Monday, Lee granted special pardons to several politicians convicted of embezzlement and other serious offenses, including former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, who was convicted of academic fraud involving his daughter.