Will South Korea's Yoon become another Lee Myung-bak?

Hit by low approval ratings, president may have to amend pro-Japan stance

20220907 Yoon and Lee

Former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, left, broke a diplomatic taboo by visiting a group of islets claimed by Japan and his country in 2012. Will current President Yoon Suk-yeol follow in similar footsteps? (Source photos by Reuters and Yonhap/Kyodo)

HIROSHI MINEGISHI, Nikkei senior staff writer

TOKYO -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is battling dismal poll ratings. A Gallup Korea survey on his 100th day in office published mid-August put his approval rating at 28%, compared with 78% for his left-leaning predecessor, Moon Jae-in, over the same span.

Yoon's low approval ratings could hamper his efforts to repair the nation's soured relationship with Japan.

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