President Lee Jae-myung said the 1987 constitution, born as a compromise shaped by the politics of its time, "no longer fits today's Republic of Korea," while flatly rejecting suspicions that he might seek to extend his time in office. "I have absolutely no intention of serving a second term," he said.
Speaking at a special news conference at the Blue House's guest house on the 18th, Lee said he would "work to see the constitution amended through reasonable debate among the ruling and opposition parties and a national consensus." He added: "My position on constitutional reform has been consistent for a long time — writing the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the Buma (Busan-Masan) Democratic Uprising of 1979 into the preamble, strengthening citizens' basic rights, dispersing some presidential powers to the National Assembly and local governments, and introducing a presidential re-election system for policy consistency and stable governance." He also dismissed as "utterly groundless" claims in some quarters that he intends to introduce a cabinet system or a semi-presidential system.
Lee stressed that "a second term for me through constitutional amendment is impossible under the constitution, and I have made clear repeatedly, through various channels, that I have never even considered it." He said demands that he pledge not to seek re-election amounted to "a political offensive aimed at creating the impression that I had been planning a second term and then gave it up." He added: "Let me say it firmly once again on this occasion. I have absolutely no intention of serving a second term."
