Every single word, when spoken out by the president, connotes more than that its mere literal definition. This is part of the full weight of responsibility that a state leader is bound to bear.

His or her speeches, as well as the manner in which they are stated, are not just personal opinions or plain descriptions of facts. They are messages to the political audience, policy guidelines of the nation, or even previews of future government actions.

But such pressure may have slipped the mind of President Park Geun-hye, who has recently flip-flopped her tone on the nation’s economy from gravely concerned to encouragingly hopeful.

“Our recent economic situation has shown several positive aspects, including a slowdown in export decline, as well as a steady growth in consumption and employment,” Park said this Monday during her meeting with top aides.

Considering the lasting challenges posed from the weak global economy, these accomplishments are not as bad as they are made out to be, she also said.

The improved economic indicators which she quoted were indeed true. But it was the president’s sudden upturn of attitude that caught many off guard.

These were Park’s words during the same kind of meeting held on Feb. 22, just two weeks before her show of optimism: “We started off this year in a solemn heart but the external economic situation turned out to be much more challenging than expected.”

In a New Year’s address in mid-January, Park even used the term “national emergency” to underline the economic difficulties, reminding the nation of the mass layoffs and financial losses of the 1997-1998 financial crisis.

One may find the president’s tone graph capricious but in fact, there is one key principle that lies beneath her wording.

When pushing ahead with the passage of pending economic and labor reform bills, Park cites the grim parts of the economic reality -- prolonged slow growth, low employment rate, and widening social polarization.

When it comes to the opposition’s rebuke upon current economic situations, however, the president chooses to put on a cheerful front.

Over the past weeks, during which Park has revised her views on the nation’s economic prospects, The Minjoo Party of Korea’s interim chief and celebrated economist Kim Chong-in has increasingly been snapping at what he sees as Park’s economic policy failure.

Such reproach from a former aide of hers certainly seems to have delivered a blow to the president, especially with about a month left till the April 13 parliamentary elections.

But despite all the odds and political stakes, Park, being the state leader that she is, should remember to look at the big picture.

For every inconsistent word, when spoken by the president, may lead to more than is intended.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)