By Kang Seung-woo
High-profile ruling party candidates running in the June 4 local elections are distancing themselves from President Park Geun-hye amid her administration's declining approval ratings, dented by its mishandling of the ferrying-sinking disaster.
It is easy to forget that barely a month ago, most of them "enthusiastically" touted their close ties with the president and prided themselves in being associated with her.
However, in the wake of the Sewol ferry accident that left more than 300 passengers dead or missing, the government and the Saenuri Party have both faced a torrent of criticism about the scandalous salvage operation in the early days of the operation.
The president's approval rating has since dropped 15 percentage points from April 4 to May 9, according to Korea Gallup, while that of the Saenuri Party fell below the 40 percent mark, the first time since the presidential election in December 2012 according to a survey by opinion researcher Realmeter.
"Political reform requires much effort and support from the president, but it is not desirable for the president to keep a distance from politics," the seven-term lawmaker Chung said as he quit his post on Wednesday to run for Seoul mayor.
However, during the party's primary to select its candidate, Chung bragged that he attended the same elementary school with Park during the same period and served as chief of her campaign team.
Nam Kyung-pil, a five-term lawmaker and candidate for Gyeonggi governor is also turning his back on the president.
Nam, who vowed to win the election to "protect and sacrifice for the president" in Saturday's primary has suddenly become critical of the president. In blaming Park, he said: "It is a pity that President Park did not offer a heartfelt apology to family members of the victims."
"I have criticized the President when she becomes self-righteous, while trying to shield her in trouble."
Meanwhile former Security and Public Administration Minister Yoo Jeong-bok and incumbent lawmaker Suh Byung-soo, are among the few candidates within the Saenuri Party who are still banking on the president's support for their electoral bids. Yoo and Suh are running for the mayor of Incheon and Busan respectively.
Meanwhile, in order to address its dwindling public approval rating ahead of the elections, the ruling party's campaign camp held its first meeting, mainly focusing on apologizing for the ferry tragedy instead of attacking their opponents.
"We make a sincere apology to the nation and will try our best to settle the national safety system," said floor leader Lee Wan-koo.
Rep. Suh Chung-won, the ruling camp's joint chief, said: "We need to restart from deep reflection, while begging humbly for forgiveness from people."
Five-term lawmaker Kim Moo-sung also said that the party's response has been inexcusable and promised the party's commitment to work hard to comfort the heartbroken public.
The local elections to fill 17 municipal and gubernatorial posts are seen as a mid-term test for the Park administration that entered its second year in February.
High-profile ruling party candidates running in the June 4 local elections are distancing themselves from President Park Geun-hye amid her administration's declining approval ratings, dented by its mishandling of the ferrying-sinking disaster.
It is easy to forget that barely a month ago, most of them "enthusiastically" touted their close ties with the president and prided themselves in being associated with her.
However, in the wake of the Sewol ferry accident that left more than 300 passengers dead or missing, the government and the Saenuri Party have both faced a torrent of criticism about the scandalous salvage operation in the early days of the operation.
The president's approval rating has since dropped 15 percentage points from April 4 to May 9, according to Korea Gallup, while that of the Saenuri Party fell below the 40 percent mark, the first time since the presidential election in December 2012 according to a survey by opinion researcher Realmeter.
"Political reform requires much effort and support from the president, but it is not desirable for the president to keep a distance from politics," the seven-term lawmaker Chung said as he quit his post on Wednesday to run for Seoul mayor.
However, during the party's primary to select its candidate, Chung bragged that he attended the same elementary school with Park during the same period and served as chief of her campaign team.
Nam Kyung-pil, a five-term lawmaker and candidate for Gyeonggi governor is also turning his back on the president.
Nam, who vowed to win the election to "protect and sacrifice for the president" in Saturday's primary has suddenly become critical of the president. In blaming Park, he said: "It is a pity that President Park did not offer a heartfelt apology to family members of the victims."
"I have criticized the President when she becomes self-righteous, while trying to shield her in trouble."
Meanwhile former Security and Public Administration Minister Yoo Jeong-bok and incumbent lawmaker Suh Byung-soo, are among the few candidates within the Saenuri Party who are still banking on the president's support for their electoral bids. Yoo and Suh are running for the mayor of Incheon and Busan respectively.
Meanwhile, in order to address its dwindling public approval rating ahead of the elections, the ruling party's campaign camp held its first meeting, mainly focusing on apologizing for the ferry tragedy instead of attacking their opponents.
"We make a sincere apology to the nation and will try our best to settle the national safety system," said floor leader Lee Wan-koo.
Rep. Suh Chung-won, the ruling camp's joint chief, said: "We need to restart from deep reflection, while begging humbly for forgiveness from people."
Five-term lawmaker Kim Moo-sung also said that the party's response has been inexcusable and promised the party's commitment to work hard to comfort the heartbroken public.
The local elections to fill 17 municipal and gubernatorial posts are seen as a mid-term test for the Park administration that entered its second year in February.
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