"Four-Year Consecutive or Renewable Terms Ensure Accountable Politics... Stance on Constitutional Amendment Unchanged"

[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung has clarified his stance on constitutional reform to reorganize the power structure. He stated that his consistent position is to enable accountable politics by changing the presidential term to a four-year consecutive or renewable term, while adding that a cabinet system is undesirable.

Here is a report from reporter Kang Min-u.

[Reporter]

President Lee Jae-myung posted on social media this afternoon (August 14), stating, "Amending our Constitution, which is over 40 years old, is something the vast majority of the public agrees on, and if it is amended, the specific details should ideally be determined by the National Assembly through an agreement between the ruling and opposition parties." He added, "My stance on the content of the constitutional amendment remains unchanged."

He went on to say, "My campaign pledge and consistent position is to amend the Constitution to change the presidential term to a four-year consecutive or renewable term to enable accountable politics through mid-term evaluations, while strengthening local autonomy and the basic rights of the people."

In particular, he emphasized, "If shortening the presidential term is necessary for constitutional reform, my position during the 2022 presidential election was that I could accept it, and that thought remains unchanged."

However, he drew a line, stating, "A semi-presidential system or a cabinet system is undesirable."

[President Lee Jae-myung / then Seongnam Mayor (January 2017): A four-year consecutive presidential system, stronger local decentralization, and the distribution of state power.]

[President Lee Jae-myung / then Presidential Candidate (May of last year): For accountable politics, we should introduce a 'four-year renewable term' system that allows it to be continued once....]

Previously, the Cheong Wa Dae (Presidential Office) also stated, "We believe that a four-year consecutive presidential system with strengthened powers for the National Assembly has the highest level of public acceptance."

This is interpreted as drawing a line against speculations raised by the conservative opposition and others that President Lee might be considering constitutional reform that even eyes a decentralized presidential system or a cabinet system.

The People Power Party reacted critically to the stance announced by the Presidential Office, calling it a "card to shift the political phase" and demanding, "Promise to stand trial first without seeking a renewable or consecutive term."

President Lee did not separately mention the issue of a consecutive term for the incumbent president in his social media post today. However, when a controversy arose late last month over National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik's remark that "constitutional amendment for a consecutive term by the incumbent president is a matter of public choice," Cheong Wa Dae Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik conveyed President Lee's remarks that "a consecutive term for the incumbent president is not permitted by our constitutional system, will not be tolerated by the public, and is realistically impossible."

(Video Shooting: Ha Ryong, Yoon Hyung | Video Editing: Lee Seung-jin | Design: Seo Hyun-jung, Kang Yun-jung, Lee Jun-ho)

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