[Anchor]

President Lee Jae-myung has clarified his stance on constitutional amendment to reform the current presidential system. Stating that his consistent position is to enable responsible politics by changing the presidential term to a four-year renewable system, he emphasized that he is even willing to shorten his own term if necessary.

Reporter Kang Min-u has the details.

[Reporter]

President Lee wrote on social media, "Amending our Constitution, which is over 40 years old, is something the vast majority of the public agrees on. If we amend it, it is desirable for the specific details to be decided by the National Assembly through a bipartisan agreement," adding, "My stance on the content of the constitutional amendment remains unchanged."

He further stated, "It is my pledge and consistent position to amend the Constitution to change the presidential term to a four-year renewable system allowing for responsible politics through interim evaluations, while strengthening local autonomy and the basic rights of citizens."

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

[President Lee Jae-myung / then presidential candidate (May of last year): To ensure responsible politics, we should introduce a 'renewable system' that allows serving consecutive terms up to once....]

President Lee emphasized, "If shortening the president's term is necessary for constitutional amendment, accepting it was my position during the 2022 presidential election, and that thought remains unchanged."

Speculation had been raised among conservative opposition parties as well as some ruling party supporters that President Lee might be considering a constitutional amendment that keeps a decentralized presidential system or cabinet system in mind. However, President Lee refuted this, stating that it is a misunderstanding to think that dispersing presidential powers to the National Assembly or elsewhere constitutes a decentralized presidential system or cabinet system.

The Presidential Office stated, "We sympathize with the problems inherent in the imperial presidential system," adding, "We believe that a four-year renewable presidential system with strengthened powers for the National Assembly has the highest level of public acceptance." Meanwhile, the People Power Party issued a critical response, calling it a "card to divert the political phase" and demanding, "Promise first to stand trial without seeking a consecutive or renewable term."

(Camera Reporter: Ha Ryong, Yoon Hyung | Video Editor: Lee Seung-jin | Designers: Seo Hyun-jung, Kang Yoon-jung, Lee Jun-ho)