[Anchor]

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik has stated that allowing an incumbent president to serve consecutive terms is a matter for the public to choose. While the current Constitution explicitly stipulates that even with a constitutional amendment, the incumbent president cannot serve consecutive terms, this remark is expected to potentially become a political burden for the ruling party.

Reporter Park Jae-yeon has the details.


[Reporter]

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik, who previously served as a political special advisor to President Lee Jae-myung, made the remarks during a press conference yesterday (the 28th).

[Cho Jung-sik / National Assembly Speaker: Regarding the reorganization of the power structure and issues such as a constitutional amendment for consecutive terms of the incumbent president, I believe that ultimately comes down to public opinion and the choice of the citizens, who are the sovereigns.]

When asked about his stance on a constitutional amendment to extend the incumbent president's term, he replied, "It is premature to discuss such matters right now," but added that it was "a matter of public choice."

[Cho Jung-sik / National Assembly Speaker: If discussions arise regarding the power structure within constitutional amendment talks, it may become an issue once again. Won't opinions eventually be gathered later through the constitutional advisory committee and the special committee on constitutional amendment?]

Prior to these remarks, Speaker Cho stated that it is time to overhaul the current Constitution, which is nearly 40 years old, outlining plans to form a speaker-affiliated advisory committee and reach a consensus on constitutional reform by the mid-to-late part of next year.

Speaker Cho's remark regarding "public choice" differs in tone from the Democratic Party's clear line drawn last May ahead of its push for a "one-point constitutional amendment," when it stated that the amendment and the issue of consecutive terms for the incumbent president were unrelated.

[Han Byung-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader (April 9): People Power Party Representative Jang Dong-hyeok dragged in the issue of consecutive presidential terms, which is unrelated to the content of the constitutional amendment, turning it into a political dispute. It is a textbook case of false agitation...]

The People Power Party criticized the remarks, claiming they reveal hidden intentions to extend the term of the administration and push for consecutive terms, which threatens the constitutional order.

[Jang Dong-hyeok / People Power Party Leader: If they go against the constitutional spirit and truly push for a constitutional amendment for consecutive terms, that itself will constitute genuine rebellion.]

Article 128 of the current Constitution stipulates that "an amendment to the Constitution for the extension of the term of office of the President or for a change to allow consecutive terms shall not be effective for the President in office at the time of the proposal for such amendment."

Furthermore, a constitutional amendment first requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the registered members of the National Assembly—meaning 200 or more lawmakers—making it difficult to amend the Constitution without the agreement of the 109 lawmakers from the People Power Party.

As the controversy spread, Speaker Cho's side clarified, "The idea that he left open the possibility of consecutive terms for the incumbent president is entirely different from the intent of his remarks," adding, "He was merely stating the principled position that a constitutional amendment to reorganize the power structure must proceed based on public consensus and political agreement."

(Camera: Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing: Park Seon-soo | Design: Han Heung-su)