Lee Jae-myung's Path Beyond Core Voters: Lessons from Roh, Kim, and Lee

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating decline has halted, with a KSOI poll showing 38.5% positive and 57.8% negative ratings as of September 30, improving slightly from two weeks prior. Analysis indicates the drop was driven primarily by centrist voters leaving, with about 40% of centrists turning against the president compared to 33% of progressives since July. Experts suggest President Lee must pivot toward centrist pragmatism rather than focusing solely on his core support base to regain momentum. Historical precedents from former presidents Kim Young-sam and Roh Moo-hyun demonstrate that low approval ratings undermine governance capacity, while President Lee's recent retreats on reform measures due to core supporter opposition may further alienate moderate voters ahead of critical 2027 and 2028 elections.