By Do Je-hae
President Park Geun-hye's approval rating is climbing after three months of lackluster performance in the 30-percent range.
A poll by Real Meter Monday showed that 41.8 percent of respondents had a positive reaction to the President's job. Polling agency Gallup Korea's survey last week also put Park's job approval rating back at 40 percent.
Ahead of the April 29 by-election, these numbers come at a crucial time for Park. Her ratings hit an all-time low of 29 percent in late January and early February.
Experts said the rebound demonstrated public confidence in how the president put Cheong Wae Dae and her Cabinet back together after replacing people in several key posts.
Choi Jin, director of the Institute of Presidential Leadership, told The Korea Times that the Feb. 17 appointment of Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo has added a sense of stability to her Cabinet.
“In recent weeks, we haven't seen any serious hindrances to her ratings,” Choi said. “The appointment of a new prime minister, among other factors, has stabilized her administration and the people's approval of this has been reflected in the ratings.”
Prime Minister Lee has been vocal in supporting key elements of Park's agenda, particularly an anti-corruption drive that has hit the nation's public and business sectors.
His first major engagement after taking office was to preside over a meeting with senior officials from law enforcement agencies to declare an “all-out war” on corruption. The Feb. 27 appointment of a new chief of staff, Lee Byung-kee, has also been a positive impact on Park. The media has been taking note of the former diplomat's role in softening Park's image as an ineffective communicator.
As Park has routinely been relatively steady in her approval ratings, Choi said that a slight rebound does not entail noticeable implications.
“A unique aspect of Park's approval rating is that she manages to steadily maintain a 40% range unless there are particularly unfavorable factors. A slight up and down in the numbers do not mean much when it comes to Park, compared to other presidents,” Choi added.
Another reason for the rebound is her diplomatic skills. Gallup Korea Director Huh Jin-jae, who conducted the March poll, told The Korea Times that diplomacy was a sustained factor in the respondents' approval. “Diplomacy has always been one of the main reasons for people's approval of Park,” Huh said.
“The elderly group is showing a strong level of approval. People in their 60s have shown more than 70 percent approval rating. This is mainly due to a stable Cheong Wa Dae and her recent diplomatic endeavors.”
Park recently returned from a Middle East trip with a host of economic initiatives. She engaged for the first time in 'funeral diplomacy' during a state memorial service for the late Singaporean founding leader Lee Kuan Yew on March 30.
One of the key factors that can impact her future ratings is how she deals with the first anniversary of the sinking of the Sewol ferry on April 16. During a meeting with senior aides, Park expressed a message of condolence to the victims and their families Monday.
"With personnel troubles behind her, the president can now focus on issues that matter to the people," Huh added. “Regarding the Sewol, her thoughts seem to be in line with the sentiments of the people."