By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
After the government wrapped up additional beef talks with the United States last week, support for President Lee Myung-bak rose, according to public opinion poll results released Wednesday. The same poll also finds more people believe it is time for protestors to walk away from the anti-American beef import rallies.
Political analysts say the change is probably behind Lee playing hardball this week over sensitive issues ― Lee's clear-cut warning against activists turning the protests violent, and the plan to put the American beef import protocol into effect today.
The latest KBS survey shows Lee's job approval rating stands at 22.6 percent, five percentage points up from early this month.
In the poll, 50.8 percent said that protestors should end the rallies as the beef talk results are satisfactory, while 43.5 percent said they still feel some discontent about the deal.
The trend of more people in favor of stopping candlelit protests was also found in a JoongAng Sunday poll last week. Some 58.2 percent of respondents said it was time to ``blow the candles out.''
Apparently spurred by the results, Lee said the government would stand firm against any form of illegal or violent protest that attempted to ``destabilize the nation.''
Following Lee's announcement, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo said the government has to fulfill commitments it made to the U.S. government as trust is important in international relations.
Lee's toughness angered the opposition parties, which claimed the additional negotiations failed to meet the expectations of the people. Washington pledged to establish the ``Less than 30 Month Age-Verification Quality System Assessment Program for Korea,'' if the government puts the import protocol into effect.
Sohn Hak-kyu, co-chairman of the largest opposition United Democratic Party, said his party would not sit by idly if the government goes ahead.
He described Lee's zero-tolerance policy against any kind of illegal or violent rally in the future as blackmail.
Other opposition parties joined the move, claiming the government is again pushing the opposition parties and protestors onto the streets.