Ki Sung-yong's seventh-minute free kick went over a group of players and to an unmarked Lee Jung-soo at thefarpost to tap in and convert South Korea's first chance on goal.
If one should occur, support may break off in favor of former prime minister Lee Soo Sung, who lost on the first ballot but retains the loyalty of many of the president's key backers.
In addition, Korean Finance Minister Lee Kyu Sung says the government will provide 50 trillion won by year's end to spur new lending and bring capital adequacy ratios to the 8% recommended for international banks.