Park's popularity dips

By Kang Seung-woo

President Park Geun-hye’s popularity has dipped below 50 percent again, an enviable number for any president; but not her.

Now the question is whether Park can pull back and pass the 50-percent mark again, especially considering pundits’ analyses that she is in dire need of game-changing momentum to buck the trend and get back on her presidential agenda.

According to pollster Realmeter, which conducts a survey on a weekly basis, her approval rating reached 49.8 percent in the third week of this month — the first time it went below the halfway mark since the third week of September when the number went down to 49.7 percent.

“Park’s lack of drive to administer state affairs is the main reason for the drop,” said Bae Jong-chan, a senior analyst at Research and Research.

Bae cited three factors plaguing Park’s approval rating — her lack of communication, measures against safety accidents and the aforementioned driving force.

“The issue has been the biggest lightning rod for the President,” Bae said.

Prof. Chung Goon-gi of Hongik University cited “the recent sluggish economy including the bear market and intractable North Korea issues.”

The Korea Composite Stock Price Index surrendered the psychologically important 1,900 mark in the afternoon before ending the day at 1,900.66 on Friday. Yesterday, it ended at 1,915.

Chung added that Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung’s remarks on constitutional revision also negatively affected the approval rating of the President who is opposed to the idea.

Since the first week of August, her approval rating had remained over 50 percent before declining below the halfway mark in the third week of September due to a tax increase issue.

“As the Park administration is less likely to have achievements that will appeal to the people at the moment, her rating is not expected to bounce back immediately,” said Bae.

He said that her popularity will remain around the 40-percent range.

Although it has been six months since the April 16 Sewol ferry disaster, Park is still struggling to reenergize her presidency as a pile of vexing issues continue to emerge.