President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating rose to 40 percent for the first time since early September, a poll showed Friday. The survey, conducted by Gallup Korea from Tuesday through Thursday on 1,001 people aged 18 and older, showed that positive assessments of Lee's performance increased 1 percentage point from the previous week. Those who disapproved of Lee's handling of state affairs fell by 2 percentage points on-week to 50 percent. Lee's approval rating last stood at 40 percent in the first week of September, before falling to a record low of 37 percent in two consecutive polls conducted in late September and early October. Among those who positively assessed Lee's performance, 21 percent cited diplomacy, followed by economic and livelihood issues at 14 percent, and communication at 7 percent. Real estate policies, along with economic and security concerns, were among the main reasons cited by those who disapproved of Lee's performance. Support for the ruling Democratic Party rose 1 percentage point to 37 percent, marking its second consecutive weekly gain after hitting a record low