[Anchor]

On today's (September 18) 8 O'Clock News, we will examine one by one whether the presidential press conference provided the answers the public was looking for. First is the matter concerning President Lee Jae-myung himself. President Lee stated, "I have absolutely no intention of seeking reelection through a constitutional amendment." In addition, regarding the controversy over the dismissal of indictments, he asked the National Assembly to remove the provision granting the authority to dismiss charges from the special counsel bill.

First, here is reporter Park Ye-rin.

[Reporter]

Ahead of today's press conference, President Lee Jae-myung included his position on the reelection issue in his prepared text and made this declaration in his opening remarks.

[President Lee Jae-myung: Taking this opportunity, I would like to state once again firmly. I have absolutely no intention of seeking reelection.]

In July, controversy spread after National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik, who previously served as President Lee's special political adviser, remarked that "the issue of a constitutional amendment for a sitting president's reelection is a matter of the public's choice," and calls grew across political circles, except for the pro-Lee faction, demanding that President Lee clarify his stance on the reelection controversy.

The conservative opposition in particular demanded that he utter the five characters meaning "I will not seek reelection."

[President Lee Jae-myung: I believed that the demand for me to promise not to seek reelection was a political offensive aimed at creating a frame suggesting that I was planning reelection and then giving it up. Nevertheless, (I state firmly.)]

Regarding the issue of dismissing indictments in cases involving himself, President Lee said that the essence was being unnecessarily distorted and requested the removal of the clause granting dismissal authority from the special counsel bill on allegations of fabricated indictments pushed by the Democratic Party.

[President Lee Jae-myung: Among the authority of the special counsel, please delete the provisions regarding the transfer or disposition of existing indicted cases, and focus solely on uncovering the truth.]

His point was that the special counsel should focus solely on determining the facts.

[President Lee Jae-myung: Regarding cases suspected of malicious investigation or fabrication, I believe it is right to uncover the truth through a special counsel.]

While the possibility of the special counsel dismissing indictments has effectively been ruled out, analysts say that if circumstances of fabricated indictments become evident depending on the investigation findings, the possibility remains that the prosecution could use that as a basis to move to dismiss the charges.

Furthermore, the conservative opposition and others are sharpening their criticism over the fact that he offered no particular response to questions regarding the resumption of trials after his term ends.

(Video by Jeong Sang-bo and Ha Ryung | Video Editing by Oh Young-taek)