Blue House Considers Lee Jae-myung’s Direct Appeal as Core Supporters Drift Away

The Blue House is considering having President Lee Jae-myung speak directly to supporters as it seeks to halt a decline in his approval ratings and repair a deepening split within his political base.

Hong Ik-pyo, the senior presidential secretary for political affairs, said in an interview with the YouTube program “News Factory” that the causes of the decline were complex. But he identified the failure of the support base to reunite after the Democratic Party convention as the biggest problem. Policy issues, including real estate and leveraged financial products tied to individual stocks, were also affecting public support.

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The biggest problem is that the division within the support base has still not returned to the way it was before, even though we expected it to ease after the party convention.

The division has become openly hostile. Supporters of the ruling camp have used derogatory labels for rival groups, including names combining figures such as former President Moon Jae-in, Cho Kuk, Kim Eo-jun, Jung Chung-rae and Yoo Si-min. Hong said such language was not the language of political comrades and was placing the Democratic Party and the Lee administration in a difficult position.

He said the Blue House was considering an active effort to soothe injured supporters and communicate Lee’s views, political philosophy and commitment to party unity more directly. Asked whether Lee himself might try to persuade supporters, Hong said officials were examining every option. He also said a focused one-on-one interview, rather than a press conference, remained under consideration.

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They are not the words of comrades.

Hong’s appearance marked his first visit to the program since taking office in January. His earlier planned appearance was canceled in March, after the show became embroiled in controversy over claims of a deal involving the withdrawal of an indictment. Hong also disclosed that Lee had met separately with former party leader Jung Chung-rae after the convention, with the conversation lasting more than 30 minutes.

On opposition claims that Lee was pursuing a constitutional amendment allowing another term, Hong said the current Constitution did not permit it and that Lee had clearly said he had not considered such a move. He said he expected the president to state his position more clearly. Hong added that the government had not yet finalized its position on dispatching troops to the Strait of Hormuz.

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We are examining, without being bound by any particular method, what would be most effective.