LINE

Text:AAAPrint
Politics

Embattled S.Korean president sees approval rating fall further to 17 pct

1
2016-10-28 13:28Xinhua Editor: Xu Shanshan ECNS App Download

South Korean President Park Geun-hye, embattled by a scandal surrounding her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil, saw her approval rating fall to the lowest since her inauguration in February 2013, a local pollster survey showed on Friday.

The public support rate for Park was 17 percent this week, down 8 percentage points from the previous week, according to Gallup Korea. It was based on a poll of 1,009 adults conducted between Tuesday and Thursday.

The figure was the lowest since Park took power about three and a half years ago, lower than another pollster Realmeter's survey result of 21.2 percent announced on Thursday.

The continued fall in Park's approval rating came as the country's first female president is suspected of letting her longtime friend, who has no official title in public office, intervene in state affairs.

Citing a former coworker of Choi, a domestic newspaper Hankyoreh reported that Choi meddled in government affairs, including Seoul's decision to shut down the inter-Korean industrial complex in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

South Korea closed down the Kaesong Industrial Complex, the last-remaining symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation, following Pyongyang's fourth nuclear device test in January and the launch in February of a long-range rocket.

According to local media reports, Choi meddled in the appointment of ministers and the editing of presidential speeches, indicating her extensive interference with national affairs.

Outraged supporters of Park, especially those in their 60s or older living in the country's southeastern regions, turned their backs severely even after Park made an unusual public apology on Tuesday to admit Choi's involvement in the editing of her speeches only during an initial period of her presidency.

According to the Gallup Korea survey, 80 percent of respondents believed that Choi's intervention in state affairs would be true, with only 6 percent saying it would not be true.

Approval rating for the ruling Saenuri Party declined 3 percentage points to 26 percent compared with the previous week, falling below the main opposition Minjoo Party's rating of 29 percent.

Some of Saenuri Party members demanded President Park drop her party affiliation.

  

Related news

MorePhoto

Most popular in 24h

MoreTop news

MoreVideo

News
Politics
Business
Society
Culture
Military
Sci-tech
Entertainment
Sports
Odd
Features
Biz
Economy
Travel
Travel News
Travel Types
Events
Food
Hotel
Bar & Club
Architecture
Gallery
Photo
CNS Photo
Video
Video
Learning Chinese
Learn About China
Social Chinese
Business Chinese
Buzz Words
Bilingual
Resources
ECNS Wire
Special Coverage
Infographics
Voices
LINE
Back to top Links | About Us | Jobs | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
Copyright ©1999-2018 Chinanews.com. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.