National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik's Remarks on Consecutive Term Constitutional Amendment Spark Controversy: Ruling Party Treads Cautiously, Opposition Responds with Backlash

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik has sparked controversy both inside and outside political circles by mentioning a constitutional amendment allowing consecutive terms for a sitting president as a matter of public choice.

Although the Office of the National Assembly Speaker attempted to quell the issue by clarifying that it was a principled remark made with the full awareness that such a move is impossible under current constitutional provisions, suspicions persist that the remarks may have left open the possibility of a consecutive term for President Lee Jae-myung.

Criticism from the conservative opposition, which has long argued that the ruling bloc's push for constitutional amendment is a preparatory step to secure consecutive terms for President Lee, is intensifying. Consequently, controversies surrounding the high-impact issues of presidential tenure and the restructuring of the power structure are expected to continue for a while.

During a press conference at the National Assembly, Speaker Cho responded to a question suggesting that the opposition opposes a constitutional amendment extending the incumbent president's term by stating, "Regarding the reorganization of the power structure, issues such as amending the constitution for consecutive terms of the incumbent president are ultimately a matter of public opinion and the choice of the people, who are the sovereigns."

Analysts suggest that Speaker Cho's remarks show a temperature difference from the Democratic Party's previous stance of drawing the line against the possibility of a consecutive term for a sitting president.

Former Speaker Woo Won-shik had previously drawn a line against the idea of a consecutive-term constitutional amendment for an incumbent president during a radio broadcast while in office, stating, "If the constitution is amended regarding consecutive terms or the presidential term, the incumbent president does not apply."

President Lee also addressed the demand made by People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok during a meeting of the ruling, opposition, and government livelihood-economy consultative body held at the Blue House in April of this year—asking him to declare a renunciation of a second or consecutive term before discussing constitutional amendments—by noting that it is impossible under current constitutional provisions.

At the time, President Lee stated, "It is impossible to modify and vote on the currently promulgated constitutional amendment bill, and isn't it also impossible given that the opposition party has secured the legislative filibuster-prevention line?"

While Speaker Cho's press conference remarks can be interpreted as suggesting that a constitutional amendment for consecutive terms of a sitting president is possible depending on public aspiration, such an amendment is barred under the current Constitution.

Article 128, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution explicitly states, "An amendment to the Constitution for the extension of the term of office of the President or for a change allowing consecutive terms shall not be effective for the President who is in office at the time of the proposal for such amendment to the Constitution."

This means that an amendment first modifying or deleting this clause would be necessary to enable a consecutive term for incumbent President Lee.

As the controversy grew, the Office of the National Assembly Speaker mobilized current constitutional provisions to defuse the situation.

Jang Hyun-ju, the senior public communications secretary for the Speaker's Office, explained in a separate briefing, "Speaker Cho is fully aware of the provisions of Article 128, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution. Speaker Cho's response expressed a principled stance that any discussion must proceed based on national consensus and political agreement."

Against this backdrop, the Speaker's Office attempted to draw a line by stating that reports alleging the remarks left open the possibility of a consecutive term for the sitting president are untrue, but the conservative opposition's offensive continued.

People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok expressed his stance separately at the National Assembly, noting that Speaker Cho is a former political affairs special advisor to President Lee Jae-myung, and criticized, "If President Lee goes against the will of the people and the spirit of the current Constitution and truly pushes for a consecutive-term constitutional amendment, that itself would be genuine treason."

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon claimed, "The Lee Jae-myung administration is preparing Plan B, a consecutive-term constitutional amendment for Lee Jae-myung, in case Plan A, the cancellation of the indictment against Lee Jae-myung, becomes difficult. This is a destruction of the constitutional order on par with illegal martial law and a path to dictatorship that can never be tolerated."

Within the ruling bloc, there is a visible sentiment hoping that unnecessary controversy will not spread, given that the Speaker's Office has sufficiently explained the intent of Speaker Cho's remarks.

However, voices of criticism emerged from some quarters.

Former National Assembly Secretary-General Yoo In-tae pointed out during SBS Joo Young-jin's News Briefing that Speaker Cho's remarks regarding a consecutive-term constitutional amendment were "wrong."

Former Secretary-General Yoo stated, "I had lunch with the party's senior advisors, and when it was mentioned that such consecutive-term rumors are circulating, everyone unanimously responded, 'Does that make any sense?' and 'How could a consecutive term system happen?'"

Some analysts suggest that as the issue of a "consecutive-term constitutional amendment" has surfaced amidst the national convention race to elect the next leader of the Democratic Party, it will draw significant attention in connection with the realignment of the ruling party's next power structure.

Some perspectives view it as even more significant that Speaker Cho, considered a core leader of the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction, brought up a "consecutive-term constitutional amendment based on the choice of the people as sovereigns."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.