By Jun Ji-hye
President Park Geun-hye was once the darling of the Saenuri Party, especially when candidates were trying to woo voters.
But that was long before Wednesday's by-elections in which 15 parliamentary seats were up for grabs, causing it to be described as a mini-general election.
On the campaign trail, it has been rare to see her likeness anywhere.
Candidates from the governing camp almost never attached Park's photograph to their campaign vehicles.
Meanwhile, the President is currently on a five day vacation.
Saenuri Party leaders, who showed up on the campaign trail wearing short pants and red cowboy hats, barely mentioned Park's name.
The party held a meeting of its Supreme Council in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday, where three parliamentary seats were up for grabs.
"The power of the governing camp is very necessary for the development of Suwon. The Saenuri Party will definitely try to stimulate the economy, so that ordinary people can smile again," said Rep. Kim Moo-sung, the party chairman.
Park's absence from campaign literature and posters was in stark contrast to previous elections including the June 4 local polls.
At that time, party candidates and leaders made full use of "Park Geun-hye marketing."
President Park has enjoyed high approval ratings thanks partly to a strong sense of sentimental nostalgia for her father, late President Park Chung-hee among the elderly, particularly among people in the Gyeongsang Provinces.
Analysts attribute the change in the governing camp's electioneering methods to Park's falling approval ratings.
A Gallop poll conducted last week showed that public support for the Park Geun-hye government was below that for the Saenuri Party.
Fifty percent of respondents gave a negative evaluation of Park's management of state affairs, while 40 percent gave positive assessments.
"Park has continuously caused controversy through her personnel appointments," said Yoon Hee-woong, Min Consulting's head of public opinion research. "Plus, an effort to legislate a special bill related to the Sewol ferry tragedy has come to a standstill. Controversy has also escalated regarding botched dealings in the search for, and discovery of, the body of Yoo Byung-eun, the de facto owner of the ill-fated vessel."
A special bill to unearth what caused the deadly ferry disaster in April has remained in limbo in the National Assembly because the ruling party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy have locked horns over whether a fact-finding committee, to be formed under the special bill, should be granted investigative powers.
Park's latest appointment failures included Moon Chang-keuk, a former prime minister nominee who allegedly glamorized Japan's colonial rule of Korea, and Chung Sung-keun, a former nominee for culture minister who allegedly had issues with women.
Cheong Wa Dae is reportedly expecting Park's popularity to increase again through its efforts to revitalize the domestic economy.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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| President Park Geun-hye |
But that was long before Wednesday's by-elections in which 15 parliamentary seats were up for grabs, causing it to be described as a mini-general election.
On the campaign trail, it has been rare to see her likeness anywhere.
Candidates from the governing camp almost never attached Park's photograph to their campaign vehicles.
Meanwhile, the President is currently on a five day vacation.
Saenuri Party leaders, who showed up on the campaign trail wearing short pants and red cowboy hats, barely mentioned Park's name.
The party held a meeting of its Supreme Council in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday, where three parliamentary seats were up for grabs.
"The power of the governing camp is very necessary for the development of Suwon. The Saenuri Party will definitely try to stimulate the economy, so that ordinary people can smile again," said Rep. Kim Moo-sung, the party chairman.
Park's absence from campaign literature and posters was in stark contrast to previous elections including the June 4 local polls.
At that time, party candidates and leaders made full use of "Park Geun-hye marketing."
President Park has enjoyed high approval ratings thanks partly to a strong sense of sentimental nostalgia for her father, late President Park Chung-hee among the elderly, particularly among people in the Gyeongsang Provinces.
Analysts attribute the change in the governing camp's electioneering methods to Park's falling approval ratings.
A Gallop poll conducted last week showed that public support for the Park Geun-hye government was below that for the Saenuri Party.
Fifty percent of respondents gave a negative evaluation of Park's management of state affairs, while 40 percent gave positive assessments.
"Park has continuously caused controversy through her personnel appointments," said Yoon Hee-woong, Min Consulting's head of public opinion research. "Plus, an effort to legislate a special bill related to the Sewol ferry tragedy has come to a standstill. Controversy has also escalated regarding botched dealings in the search for, and discovery of, the body of Yoo Byung-eun, the de facto owner of the ill-fated vessel."
A special bill to unearth what caused the deadly ferry disaster in April has remained in limbo in the National Assembly because the ruling party and the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy have locked horns over whether a fact-finding committee, to be formed under the special bill, should be granted investigative powers.
Park's latest appointment failures included Moon Chang-keuk, a former prime minister nominee who allegedly glamorized Japan's colonial rule of Korea, and Chung Sung-keun, a former nominee for culture minister who allegedly had issues with women.
Cheong Wa Dae is reportedly expecting Park's popularity to increase again through its efforts to revitalize the domestic economy.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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