Most Koreans cite Pres. Park`s lack of communication: poll

A significant portion of Koreans, including those who supported Park Geun-hye in her presidential bid, say the president has displayed “communication-less leadership” in the first month of her term.

To mark the first month of the new administration, Dong-A Ilbo conducted a survey of 200 adults aged 20 or older nationwide from March 14 to Tuesday. Seventy percent (140 people) called her communication "problematic," including half of those who backed her bid for the presidency.

In October last year, Dong-A traced the support trends three times until the Dec. 19 election after choosing samples of 50 people each among supporters of the three presidential candidates in proportion to the populations of major cities and provinces nationwide. This time, Dong-A added 50 people who supported President Park to the 150 people, and divided into two each the portions of those who support the ruling and opposition parties. To analyze the change in people’s sentiment and direction, the survey was conducted by tracing the same population.

On President Park`s national management, 51 percent (102 people) said she is doing well. Among 100 who supported her in the election, 83 (83 percent) gave the positive answer, showing solid support for her. Among President Park’s supporters, 17 said she needed to do better. Among 100 people who supported opposition candidates, only 19 said she is doing her job well.

Many, however, criticized her selection of Cabinet members. A combined 113 people (56.5 percent), including 32 among 100 supporters, called her choices "ill-advised." Thirty-one people (15.5 percent), including five of the president`s supporters, responded “very ill-advised.” Eighty-six (43 percent), including 68 from her supporters, endorsed her selections, calling it a "job well done."

becom@donga.com