NK offer boosts Moon's popularity

By Jun Ji-hye

President Moon Jae-in’s approval rating rose to 72.1 percent amid high expectations for the resumption of dialogue between the two Koreas, a survey showed Thursday.

Local pollster Realmeter said its survey of 1,400 people, which took place from Tuesday to Wednesday, showed that Moon’s rating increased by 3.6 percentage points compared to that of last week.

Those who were dissatisfied by President Moon’s state management were 23.7 percent, down 1.3 percentage points from last week.

On Monday, North Korea leader Kim Jong-un said, during his New Year address, that his regime was willing to send a delegation to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, scheduled for Feb. 9 to 25, suggesting a meeting between officials from the two Koreas to discuss the North’s possible participation.

The conciliatory gesture toward the South came as a surprise, given the Kim regime conducted several large-scale provocations including three intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) launches last year, heightening military tension on the Korean Peninsula.

The government welcomed the North Korean leader’s message, Tuesday, offering to hold high-level talks, Jan. 9.

Then on Wednesday, the North reopened the cross-border communication link at the truce village of Panmunjeom, which was cut off following the Park Geun-hye government’s decision in February 2016 to shut down the inter-Korean industrial complex, located in the North Korean border city of Gaeseong.

“The increase in President Moon’s approval rating is attributed to him immediately welcoming Kim’s New Year address and offering inter-Korean talks,” the pollster said in a release. “This has rapidly raised expectations for a thaw in South-North relations.”

Releasing the survey results of the popularity of political parties, the pollster added that the ruling Democratic Party of Korea maintained first place, garnering 52.7 percent, up 2.4 percentage points from last week.

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party earned 17.7 percent, up 0.9 percentage points, while the minor opposition Bareun Party and the People’s Party secured 6.3 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively.