Farmer Shin Jeong-geun speaks to journalists about the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in Seongju county, South Korea, Aug. 2, 2016. It is not difficult to feel how deeply and severely locals are enraged at their government, which agreed with the United States to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in their hometown. Banners expressing opposition to the U.S. missile defense system are found almost everywhere inside the Seongju county, in which one THAAD battery is set to be installed by the end of next year. Oriental melon farming is an economic mainstay of the county, which yields more than 70 percent of the country's total melon crops. THAAD's X-band radar is known to emit super-strong microwave detrimental to human body. It also causes an environmental hazard, boosting concerns about the farming in Seongju. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)
SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Park Geun-hye's approval rating posted a double-digit decline in her political home turf following a decision to deploy Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in its soil.
Park's support rate in North Gyeongsang province, a traditional home ground for herself and the ruling Saenuri Party, tumbled 14.8 percentage points from a month earlier to 27.7 percent, according to a survey of 1,224 adults conducted by local pollster Research View between July 29 and 31.
It was the first time Park's approval rating fell below 30 percent, once called a cemented supporting level.
Negative assessment on Park's management of state affairs was 57.7 percent, more than double the support rate of 27.7 percent.
Another political hometown of the conservative party, South Gyeongsang province, posted 28.7 percent in support rate for President Park. Negative assessment in the region almost doubled at 56.8 percent.
The THAAD deployment decision alienated people in the southeast regions from President Park.
Early last month, Seoul and Washington abruptly agreed to install one THAAD battery in Seongju county, some 250 km southeast of Seoul, by the end of next year.
Seongju residents and people in adjacent regions were enraged at the out-of-the-blue announcement without any prior notice and discussions. Villagers have held a candlelight rally every night to protest against the decision, while collecting anti-THAAD signatures to deliver those to White House.
Nationwide approval rating for Park inched up 1.4 percentage points from a month earlier to 28.0 percent, but it was less than half the negative assessment of 59.8 percent.
The main opposition Minju Party surpassed the conservative party in its approval rating in the southeast regions for the first time in history.
The Minju Party gained a support rate of 34.8 percent in North Gyeongsang province, higher than the Saenuri Party's 32.1 percent. In South Gyeongsang province, the former won 35.9 percent in approval rating, with the latter winning 30.2 percent.
Nationwide approval rating for the main opposition party ranked first with 30.6 percent, followed by the ruling party with 29.7 percent, People's Party with 15.7 percent and Justice Party with 5.0 percent.
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