Art of communication
By Cho Jae-hyon
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Years ago, I had the chance to meet Park Geun-hye at a casual dinner gathering along with a small group of foreign correspondents. At that time, she was just one presidential hopeful among members of the conservative party and few knew she would be the nation’s first female leader.
Before meeting her up close, I had some prejudice against her that she would be aloof and sullen. But I found out that she had a very attractive personality. Her attitude and the way she reacts to questions were sincere and kind. She exuded an aura of charm, grace and refinement ― just like her late mother who was loved by the people.
As I harbored some prejudice against her, people have their own skewed views on her. She projects diverse images ― from such a positive as a “politician of principles” to an “ice princess” with negative nuance for her reluctance to show emotion.
All the twisted images or misconceptions of her may stem from the fact she is the daughter of the late President Park Chung-hee, who ruled the country heavy-handedly for 18 years before being assassinated in 1979.
It is a burden she must shoulder and might not be able to shake off, no matter how hard she may try.
It’s already been more than a month since President Park, in her Feb 25 inaugural address, promised to usher in a new era of hope whereby the happiness of each citizen would become the bedrock of the nation’s strength.
However, things are obviously not working out well for her. People are disappointed at the way she picks her top lieutenants. Even conservative major dailies, long-time supporters of Park, are spewing out venomous articles critical of her “do-it-alone” style of ruling.
A number of nominees for Cabinet positions had to bow out, stumbling on numerous allegations ranging from dubious land transactions to stashing away millions of dollars overseas.
One of the key concerns about Park before her election was that she is not good at communicating. That concern seems to be materializing.
Last Saturday, the presidential office unexpectedly issued a terse apology for the appointment blunders in the name of presidential chief of staff, Huh Tae-yeoul. But the person who read the apology was not Huh but presidential spokeswoman Kim Haing. Who is the one who is apologetic? Is it Park, Huh or Kim? It should be none other than Park.
The two-sentence apology, announced on Saturday and short enough to finish reading in just 17 seconds, showed how Park is at communicating with the public. It also explains why her popularity is going downward.
Even those who voted for her in the presidential election are apparently turning their back, with several polls showing her approval rate plummeting to around 45 percent from 55 percent a month ago, when she took office.
All the flops point to her lone leadership style and lack of communication. Cheong Wa Dae apparently senses the urgency to pull up the slumping approval rate before it gets too late, but how is a big question.
She was in trouble even before her honeymoon with the opposition began.
Many of her ambitious economic and social projects, highlighted by her pledged “creative economy,” are coming under attack not only from outside but from within her administration for their vagueness and dearth of substance and details.
During the confrontation with opposition parties over the government reorganization bill last month, Park demonstrated her persistence sufficiently. So it may not be such a bad idea for her to change her style ― even if slightly.
The lack of communication with those who can say “no” is at the center of all the troubles the president is now facing. It’s time for her to make greater efforts to get close to the people.
In the face of recalcitrant opposition parties, what Park needs most to press ahead with her ambitious goals is stronger popular support. She needs to meet the people and listen harder to them to restore her lost popularity.
A president can’t and shouldn’t do things alone. She faces enormous tasks ahead. Even so, or because of that, Park needs to loosen up a bit and let other people do things for her. It may be the first step for her to break the impasse.
As I was impressed by her refined manner and pleasant smile at the dinner table years ago, she needs to show the people her hidden attractiveness and charms. And that’s possible only when she tries to meet and communicate with the people honestly.