SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Koreans began voting Wednesday in local elections seen as a test of how the public feels about President Park Geun-hye’s handling of April’s deadly ferry sinking.

Park’s approval ratings have plummeted since the April 16 disaster that left more than 300 people dead or missing and led to an outpouring of rage and shame. Park has apologized several times amid growing public criticism over how her government conducted search and rescue operations and monitored safety issues before the sinking. It remains to be seen whether the disaster will hurt Park’s ruling conservative Saenuri Party in the vote. Pre-election surveys suggested her party may fare well or, at the least, avoid a big defeat.