President Lee Jae-myung's news conference on the 18th began at 10:30 a.m. and ran for 100 minutes. The jokes were gone, and it was the first time he delivered both his opening remarks and the question-and-answer session standing at the podium.
Speaking at the Blue House, Lee said, "I have absolutely no intention of serving another term," drawing a clear line against the idea that he himself would seek re-election under a constitutional revision allowing consecutive presidential terms. On the contentious appointment of Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won, he was cautious, saying he had "not yet reached a final conclusion." On his falling approval rating, he lowered his posture, saying it was "all because of my own shortcomings," and moved to reassure his base, asking supporters to "set aside suspicions that we are backsliding on reform."
While dismissing a revision for consecutive terms, he asked the National Assembly to delete provisions in the special counsel bill on fabricated prosecutions that deal with the transfer or disposition of existing indictments. He left room, however, on allegations of excessive investigations and indictments under the previous government, saying "the truth needs to be established through a special counsel."
Attributes falling support to "my own shortcomings"
Uses the word "shortcoming" 13 times as he bows his head
He took a humble stance on the appointment controversy. On the nominee Kim, he said he would "decide carefully, taking into account the public's expectations." He also signaled plans to review the personnel vetting system. At the same time, in response to concerns about backsliding on prosecution reform, he repeatedly stressed the principle of separating investigation from indictment and his determination to complete the overhaul.
On livelihood and economic policy, he reaffirmed his existing course. To normalize the housing market, he emphasized expanding supply and swiftly implementing regulatory and tax measures. On the introduction of single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs), he acknowledged that "there were shortcomings," but explained that "it was a policy that took into account the need to stabilize the foreign exchange market and channel investment domestically."
On the Strait of Hormuz, he was categorical: "There will be no deployment of troops that would involve or intervene in a war." On investment negotiations with the United States, he said "the national interest must not be undermined," adding that talks would continue on the basis of commercial rationality.
Assessments from the rival parties diverged. The Democratic Party of Korea said doubts over the withdrawal of indictments and a revision for consecutive terms had been dispelled and that it had confirmed his commitment to livelihood issues, reform and unity. Rep. Yoon Gun-young, regarded as a pro-Moon figure, also said he felt "reassured." The People Power Party, by contrast, criticized the remarks, saying "on a second term, on appointments, on contrition — these were excuses, not commitments."
Lee, asking that case-withdrawal clause be deleted: "Focus on uncovering the truth about fabricated prosecutions"
Lee's dismissal of the possibility of a second term at the news conference on the 18th is read as a determination to clear away unnecessary suspicions and draw a clear line against the opposition's political offensive. His request that the National Assembly delete the clause amounting to withdrawal of indictments from the special counsel bill is read as an intent to put the emphasis on uncovering the so-called "fabricated prosecution" allegations through fact-finding. Unlike his earlier news conferences, his decision to drop the jokes and focus on his message is also seen by analysts as a sign that he is taking seriously the deteriorating public sentiment reflected in his recent drop in support.
Lee stressed from his opening remarks that he had "absolutely no intention of serving another term." On the opposition's persistent demand that he declare he would forgo a second term, he said, "I thought it was a political offensive aimed at creating a frame in which I had been contemplating a second term and then gave it up." He added, "Even so, let me say it firmly once again. I have absolutely no intention of serving another term." It was a passage explaining that he had not previously clarified his position because he was weighing a second term, but because he did not want to be swept into a partisan fight the opposition was trying to provoke.
Even so, he lent weight to the case for constitutional revision. Lee said the 1987 constitution, "born as a product of compromise over the political situation of the time, is no longer a garment that fits today's Republic of Korea," and said the constitution should be amended through discussions between the governing and opposition parties and a national consensus. For the direction of revision, he proposed including the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the Busan-Masan Uprising in the constitution's preamble, strengthening citizens' basic rights, distributing some presidential powers to the National Assembly and local governments, and introducing a system allowing a president to serve consecutive terms.
Stresses need for revision including consecutive terms
Draws a line: "I have absolutely no intention of serving another term"
To Jo Hee-de: "Should think about what it means to grant independence"
On the system of consecutive presidential terms, he made clear that the aim was to improve policy consistency and governing stability and that a second term for himself would be impossible. He also ruled out the possibility of introducing a cabinet system or a dual executive system, calling it "preposterous."
On the contentious withdrawal of indictments, he publicly asked the National Assembly to remove the relevant clause from the special counsel bill. His point was that among the investigations and indictments carried out under the Yoon Suk-yeol government there were cases pursued excessively for political purposes, and that the truth must be established through a special counsel — but that the sole purpose should be fact-finding. "Please delete the provisions among the special counsel's powers concerning the transfer or disposition of existing indicted cases, and focus solely on establishing the truth," Lee said. "I ask that steps be taken so that an unnecessary dispute over withdrawing indictments does not arise."
Some analysts noted, however, that his remarks are distinct from completely foreclosing the possibility of withdrawing indictments through legal procedures. The view is that Lee was blocking the political controversy arising from granting a special counsel the power to withdraw indictments, along with attempts to obscure the substance of the matter, and that underlying it was a judgment that if fabricated indictments pursued for political purposes are established, corresponding follow-up steps should follow as a matter of course. Lee's emphasis that "everything can be handled according to reason, the law and principle" is interpreted in the same context.
On Supreme Court Chief Justice Jo Hee-de's remarks on "judicial independence," Lee offered a critical message, saying, "I think we need to consider why independence is granted to state institutions." The comment came after the Blue House returned the request for consent to the appointment of Supreme Court justice nominee Son Bong-gi, whom Jo had recommended, and demanded a new recommendation. It is read as meaning the Supreme Court should not monopolize authority in the name of judicial independence.
Traces of deliberation over his approval rating, which has recently fallen to the 30% range, were evident throughout the news conference. It had originally been scheduled to start at 10 a.m. but was pushed back 30 minutes as Lee polished his remarks until the last moment.
As the conference opened, Lee spoke candidly in his opening remarks, saying, "It is true that I was taken aback when I suddenly faced the public's disappointment and worry after the local elections," and lowered his posture, saying it was "all because of my own shortcomings." His expression was heavier than usual, he cut back on jokes, and he kept his answers restrained. Repeating words such as "humility" and "communication," he acknowledged shortcomings in his administration and adopted a modest posture.
The conference ran about 100 minutes, and Lee took a total of 14 questions. That is markedly shorter than his first-anniversary news conference in June (167 minutes) and his New Year's news conference in January (173 minutes). At earlier sessions he had continued taking questions past the scheduled time, but this one ended without going much beyond the planned 90 minutes.
Soothing a divided base — Lee: "Set aside your suspicions about prosecution reform"
Lee on the 18th directly rebutted the controversy over backsliding on prosecution reform and appealed for restraint over infighting and hateful language among his supporters. With discontent growing within the governing camp's base over recent appointments and the direction of prosecution reform, the remarks are read as an effort to reaffirm his commitment to reform and calm his supporters.
At the news conference held at the Blue House guesthouse, Lee said, "I ask once again that you set aside suspicions that the president effectively does not want to pursue prosecution reform, that he is siding with the prosecution and trying to do something, that we are backsliding on reform." He went on to stress that prosecution reform had in fact progressed further than originally targeted, saying, "Prosecution reform is already settled." It was a clear statement that he would not reverse the existing course of stripping prosecutors of investigative powers and separating a public prosecution office from a serious crimes investigation agency.
On concerns about gaps in investigations following the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigative powers, he offered checks on the police as an alternative. "The problems that could arise from the absence of prosecutors' supplementary investigative powers will be resolved with thorough checks and safeguards on police investigations," Lee said. "Through a high-intensity overhaul of the police, I will dispel the public's concern that the police could regress into an all-powerful agency by monopolizing investigative authority."
Lee devoted considerable time to the derogatory and hateful language spreading within his base. "I wish we would not use slurs against anyone, or hate or loathe anyone," he said. "It pains me every time I see it." He added, "However large the differences among us, they are not as wide as the distance between us and the opponent we must defeat," and urged supporters, "Even if there are things that make you angry, I hope we can be inclusive and find a way forward together toward the aims and values we originally held."
Lee was particularly wary of division among his supporters, saying, "We are all pro-Moon and pro-Roh and pro-Kim Dae-jung, and we are all comrades of Lee Jae-myung." Throughout the conference he stressed the message that disagreements over the pace and methods of reform must not spill over into distrust of the government's commitment to reform itself or into infighting among supporters.
