By Kim Hyo-jin
Approval ratings for the ruling Saenuri Party and President Park Geun-hye are rising amid political conflict over the government's move to adopt a state-authored history textbook, according to the latest poll, Wednesday.
In pollster R&Search's survey during the second week of October, the approval rating of the Saenuri Party rose 3.3 percentage points, compared with the previous week, to 39.4 percent.
The poll also showed that 51.2 percent of respondents approved of the way the President is handling her duties. The figure bounced back above 50 percent in a month, up 9.1 percentage points from a week ago.
Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung's approval rating rose in parallel. It stood at 21.6 percent, up 3.6 percentage points from a week ago.
Kim has topped the list of potential presidential candidates from rival parties for the past few months but his approval rating had remained at below 20 percent since September.
Political watchers believe conservative voters are strengthening their unity over what they call "ideological conflicts."
"The textbook row is hardly free from an ideological frame, to which right-wingers will sensitively respond," said Yoon Tae-gon, a senior political analyst at Moa Agenda Strategy.
"The current row became a turning point for the ruling party engulfed in an intra-party feud surrounding electoral rule. It is creating a favorable atmosphere for the party ahead of next year's general election."
Chung Goon-gi, a politics professor at Hongik University agreed, adding that it remains to be seen how it will affect the election as those in the opposition camp have joined forces over the issue.
"Moreover, centrists in metropolitan areas could join the liberal camp's push against a state-authored history textbook later on," he said, citing intensifying protests following a government announcement on plans for textbook revisions this week.
The government decision to standardize history textbooks fueled intense opposition from civic groups and opposition parties.
The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in agreed to form an alliance with the minor opposition Justice Party Chairwoman Rep. Sim Sang-jeung and independent lawmaker Chun Jung-bae Tuesday to fight the government's move.
It is expected to delay the establishment of a new party which Rep. Chun is working on, thereby preventing further division of the opposition camp, analysts said.
Approval ratings for the ruling Saenuri Party and President Park Geun-hye are rising amid political conflict over the government's move to adopt a state-authored history textbook, according to the latest poll, Wednesday.
In pollster R&Search's survey during the second week of October, the approval rating of the Saenuri Party rose 3.3 percentage points, compared with the previous week, to 39.4 percent.
The poll also showed that 51.2 percent of respondents approved of the way the President is handling her duties. The figure bounced back above 50 percent in a month, up 9.1 percentage points from a week ago.
Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung's approval rating rose in parallel. It stood at 21.6 percent, up 3.6 percentage points from a week ago.
Kim has topped the list of potential presidential candidates from rival parties for the past few months but his approval rating had remained at below 20 percent since September.
Political watchers believe conservative voters are strengthening their unity over what they call "ideological conflicts."
"The textbook row is hardly free from an ideological frame, to which right-wingers will sensitively respond," said Yoon Tae-gon, a senior political analyst at Moa Agenda Strategy.
"The current row became a turning point for the ruling party engulfed in an intra-party feud surrounding electoral rule. It is creating a favorable atmosphere for the party ahead of next year's general election."
Chung Goon-gi, a politics professor at Hongik University agreed, adding that it remains to be seen how it will affect the election as those in the opposition camp have joined forces over the issue.
"Moreover, centrists in metropolitan areas could join the liberal camp's push against a state-authored history textbook later on," he said, citing intensifying protests following a government announcement on plans for textbook revisions this week.
The government decision to standardize history textbooks fueled intense opposition from civic groups and opposition parties.
The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in agreed to form an alliance with the minor opposition Justice Party Chairwoman Rep. Sim Sang-jeung and independent lawmaker Chun Jung-bae Tuesday to fight the government's move.
It is expected to delay the establishment of a new party which Rep. Chun is working on, thereby preventing further division of the opposition camp, analysts said.
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