President Park Geun-hye vowed Monday not to cause the public concern by well coordinating policies with her ruling party as she expressed gratitude for the well wishes on her 63rd birthday, an official said.
She had lunch with her chief of staff and 10 senior presidential secretaries as well as other officials at her official residence to celebrate, presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook said. “The atmosphere was cordial” Min said, adding that the participants sang “Happy Birthday” to Park.
Still, Park is apparently not in a party mood as her approval rating fell to 29 percent last week, her lowest since taking office in February 2013, according to polling agency Gallup Korea.
It marks the first time that Park’s approval rating has tumbled to levels below 30 percent.
Park has recently faced public backlash over the government’s revised tax settlement scheme and suspension of plans to revamp the national health insurance system meant to fairly distribute the public burden.
On Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent well-wishes to Park for her birthday and said he wished to make joint efforts with Park to further develop relations between the two neighbors, according to Park’s office. (Yonhap)
