Seoul, April 17 : South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's approval rating inched down slightly for the first time in three weeks to 66 per cent, a poll showed Friday.

The survey by Gallup Korea, conducted Tuesday through Thursday on 1,000 respondents aged 18 and over, showed that the positive assessment of Lee's overall performance fell 1 percentage point from the previous week, Yonhap News Agency reported.

In the previous survey, Lee's approval rating stood at 67 per cent for the second consecutive week, marking the highest level since taking office.

The negative assessment rose 2 percentage points to 26 per cent, while 8 per cent were undecided.

Lee's handling of the economy and people's livelihoods was cited most frequently as the reason for positive evaluation at 17 per cent, followed by diplomacy at 14 per cent and competence at 11 per cent.

Among the negative responses, 17 per cent pointed to concerns over the economy and the high exchange rate, followed by diplomacy at 12 per cent and excessive welfare policies at 9 per cent.

The approval rating for the ruling Democratic Party remained unchanged at 48 per cent, maintaining its highest level since the current administration took office for the third straight week.

Support for the main opposition People Power Party fell 1 percentage point to 19 per cent.

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

On Thursday, Cheong Wa Dae said South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will attend talks led by Britain and France this week over freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The virtual gathering, to be hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer late Friday (Seoul time), aims to ensure free and safe passage through the crucial waterway.

â??As the freedom and security of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz serve the interests of all parties and are vital to our national interests, we are continuing efforts to work in solidarity with countries that share similar positions,â?? a senior official told reporters.

Lee is preparing a message addressing energy supply chains, Seoul's stance on the Middle East situation, and the importance of international solidarity to ensure free passage through the crucial shipping route, the official said.

The leader-level meeting follows earlier consultations, including a France-led video conference of top military officials on March 26 and a Britain-led ministerial meeting on April 2, both of which South Korea attended.

The United States is not expected to attend the meeting, while China's and Japan's participation has yet to be confirmed, the official said.

/IANS