Lee Jae-myung Rules Out Second Term, Ties Constitutional Reform Push to Public Trust
Korean President Lee Jae‑myung announced on Friday that Lee Jae‑myung will not seek a second term. Lee Jae‑myung wanted to settle rumours that Lee Jae‑myung’s drive for reform was only meant to keep more power for Lee Jae‑myung himself. Lee Jae-myung Second Term
During a news conference held at the compound in Seoul Lee Jae‑myung explained that a second consecutive term for Lee Jae‑myung through any constitutional amendment would be unconstitutional.
Lee Jae‑myung also said that Lee Jae‑myung has never once considered running. These remarks came as Lee Jae‑myung’s administration faces growing pressure. Lee Jae‑myung’s approval rating fell for the straight week to 38 percent according to Gallup Korea polling down from 45 percent three weeks earlier.
Lee Jae‑myung has long pushed for a revision of South Korea’s 1987 constitution, which currently limits presidents to a five‑year term.
Lee Jae‑myung reiterated support for allowing future presidents to serve two terms and for broader changes such as embedding the legacy of the 1980 Gwangju democratization movement into the constitution’s preamble and redistributing some presidential powers to the National Assembly and local governments.
Lee Jae‑myung argued that the current charter, shaped by compromise, during South Korea’s transition no longer fits the country’s needs.
The president pushed back against demands that he explicitly pledge to forgo re-election, calling such calls a political tactic meant to suggest he had secretly planned to extend his term before backing down. He said he was nonetheless using the press conference to state his position unequivocally.
Lee also took responsibility for his government’s declining public standing, attributing the slide to his own shortcomings rather than external factors, and pledged closer attention to public sentiment going forward.
He indicated he would revisit the administration’s approach to personnel appointments, an area that has drawn recent criticism, while stopping short of announcing specific policy changes on cabinet reshuffles or housing.
Separately, Lee reaffirmed that South Korea would not become militarily involved in the ongoing Middle East conflict, underscoring his focus on domestic governance as approval ratings continue to weigh on his administration. Middle East Report
