I've noticed an interesting Facebook phenomenon since South Korea's presidential elections last December. As soon as the result was announced, most of the supporters for the opposition leader Moon Jae suddenly went on silence. One of my Facebook friends whose voice was louder than anyone else disappeared from the site, leaving a message that reads "I do not want to hear any kind of news any more."

On the other hand, my Facebook newsfeeds showed friends that I didn't even know were supporting Park Geun-hye, South Korea's first-ever female president, suddenly painting their walls with messages full of expectations and hopes for the new president.

But a month later, this has changed.

A few weeks ago, my friend who disappeared on Facebook broke her silence criticizing one of the nomination decisions for Park's new cabinet.

Meanwhile, Park's supporters seemed to be minimizing their comments on Park and her new cabinet.

Just like that, the presidential honeymoon was over. A recent Gallop Korea poll showed that the approval rate for Park dropped to 44 percent in late February from a high of 56 percent in January. It was a faster drop than for any other South Korean president since the country turned democratic. And the crux was Park's poor personnel choices.

Amid crucial issues for South Korea, including North Korea's threats to begin a second Korean war, South Koreans had to witness six top-ranking officials nominated by Park withdraw their nominations in just a month. Add senior advisors, and the number hits 12.

The latest is Han Man-soo, chairman nominee for the Fair Trade Commission, a corporate watchdog, who stepped down on Monday. Han has been accused of holding secret overseas bank accounts to evade taxes and criticized for working for a major law firm known to represent the benefits of large corporations.

On March 22, it was the nominee for the Ministry of National Defense Kim Byung-kwan, who had faced severe opposition from the opposition parties and even from the ruling party. His alleged experience as a military lobbyist and speculation in real estate hardly qualified Kim for the position, but Park stood firmly by him.

It was only after he faced yet another allegation that he stepped down. He hid his stake in a company that conducts offshore drilling in Myanmar, allegedly with help of ties to former president Lee Myung-bak.

One day before the defense nominee stepped down, Kim Hak-eui, a vice minister of justice, resigned after allegedly being involved in a sexual bribery case. 

The continuous bumps in personnel selection prevented Park's cabinet from getting off to a smooth start. At the same time, the reorganization plans she proposes have been delayed due to the standoff in parliament.

The reorganization plans include creating a new Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.

Park said the new ministry would create more jobs and strengthen national competitiveness. But opposition parties were worried that it is designed to control the media. The bill finally passed after more than 50 days of impasse, but no one feels victorious.

At this juncture, it would be strange if no fatigue had set in. The South Korean people are fed up with politics and the expectations for the new government have faded.

Park's top-down and secretive personnel selection has undermined the morale of her new government. One after another of her choices has turned out to be financially prosperous but morally bankrupt.

Park is known as a politician of principle and integrity among her supporters. But her principles and beliefs won't shine if not understood by her fellow citizens.

The fact that so many of her nominees have turned out to be rotten apples should teach her that some part of her principles is not on the right track. One time is a coincidence, 12 times is a pattern.

It is painful to admit that the honeymoon period has been wasted for Park. But it's not too late. About 30 percent of respondents of the Gallop poll said they were deferring their evaluation.

Perhaps they still wish the country's first-ever female president can do well and expect Park to keep her promise made a month ago to build "a Republic of Korea that is prosperous and where happiness is felt by all Koreans."

The honeymoon is ruined, but it doesn't mean that the marriage is wrecked forever, as long as the problems can be fixed early on.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. gayoungpark@globaltimes.com.cn