Growing Controversy Over 'Public Choice'… "State You Won't Seek Re-election"

[Anchor]

The controversy surrounding a constitutional amendment for consecutive terms by a sitting president has been heavily fueled by remarks from some ruling party figures who left the door open, calling it a "matter of public choice." While President Lee Jae-myung stated that his term is constitutionally limited, the People Power Party has urged him to clearly declare that he will not seek re-election.

Reporting from Kim Kwan-jin.

[Reporter]

Regarding President Lee Jae-myung's remark that "the term is clearly limited by the Constitution," the People Power Party criticized it as mere "wordplay," pointing out that he stopped short of saying he will "not pursue consecutive or multiple terms."

[Jang Dong-hyeok / Leader, People Power Party: There is no crafty constitutional amendment, and he will not seek consecutive terms—he is ultimately avoiding saying these words.]

The Democratic Party did not issue an official commentary, but reactions refuting the People Power Party's criticisms continued within the party.

[Song Ki-heon / Lawmaker, Democratic Party: My view is that the President does not necessarily need to make such a statement.]

Regarding the possibility of a constitutional amendment allowing consecutive terms for a sitting president, Government Legislation Minister Cho Won-chul—a classmate of President Lee from the Judicial Research and Training Institute—stated during a parliamentary audit in October of last year that "it is a matter for the public to decide." Furthermore, National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-shik, who previously served as a political special advisor to President Lee, sparked a controversy last July with the following remarks:

[Cho Jung-shik / National Assembly Speaker (Last July): Ultimately, I think it is a matter of public opinion and the choice of the citizens, who are the sovereigns.]

Among some supporters of the pan-ruling camp, a so-called "3+4 consecutive term theory" has even emerged, suggesting that President Lee could reduce his current term to 3 years through a constitutional amendment and then run again to serve another 4 years.

Debates on this issue continued during the negotiation group speeches by floor leaders on the 7th and 8th of this month.

[Kim Min-seok / Leader, Democratic Party (On the 7th): The restructuring of the power structure should go as far as the public desires.]

[Jung Jum-shik / Floor Leader, People Power Party (The day before yesterday): We will never discuss constitutional amendments with forces trying to pursue private interests through such amendments.]

While some in academia suggest that consecutive terms could be made possible through a "two-step constitutional amendment"—first amending or deleting Article 128, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution, and then modifying the 5-year single-term provision for the president under Article 70—many maintain the view that consecutive terms for a sitting president are fundamentally impossible given the spirit of the current Constitution, which aims to block any attempts at long-term rule.

(Reported by Oh Young-chun and Kim Yong-woo | Video edited by Yu Mi-ra | Designed by Hwang Se-yeon)

※