[ED] Lee must say no to 2nd term

The editorial says President Lee Jae Myung should firmly reject any second-term bid as constitutional reform is debated in Seoul. It argues that any amendment extending a presidential term would not apply to the incumbent under Article 128 of the Constitution. The piece says Lee’s support for a four-year, two-term system and the DPK’s push for revision could create political uncertainty unless he rules out reelection.

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea holds 161 of 300 seats in the National Assembly, short of the two-thirds majority needed to amend the Constitution.

Article 128 of the Constitution says amendments extending a presidential term or allowing reelection do not apply to the president in office when the amendment is adopted.

The editorial says support for the president and the ruling party has fallen to the 30 percent range.

Seoul is also facing pressure to take on more of the defense burden in its alliance with Washington and to implement a $350 billion investment commitment in the United States amid tariff threats.

Published Sep 8, 2026 1:36 pm KST

Updated Sep 8, 2026 2:37 pm KST

Ruling camp pushes for 1st constitutional revision in 39 years

Kim Min-seok, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, delivers a speech at the National Assembly, Monday, where he pushed for constitutional reform and more cooperative politics, among other administrative policies. Yonhap

Constitutional reform has come to the fore of Korean politics, as many point to the limits of the Constitution, rewritten in its current form in 1987, in allowing direct presidential elections.

The presidency’s single-term limit no longer befits the challenges facing a nation that has emerged as a global leader across multiple sectors. That view is increasingly being echoed by the ruling party, the president and experts, who argue that the current system can undermine policy continuity and effective long-term leadership.

Speaking as the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) new leader, Kim Min-seok addressed lawmakers on Monday, saying that the party "will pursue constitutional revision that is realistically achievable, reflecting changes in the times and the demands of the people while respecting the procedural principles of the Constitution and the law."

Gathering consensus aside, any constitutional changes that would extend a presidential term or allow for reelection will not be applicable to the incumbent president as stated under Article 128 of the Constitution. Simply put, President Lee Jae Myung will not be allowed a second term if the Constitution is amended during his term.

The DPK leader's remarks can be interpreted as seeking an amendment that falls within the boundaries that primarily exclude the sitting president from a revision's application. However, interpretations are subjective and context also matters. Lee has repeatedly opined for changing the current single five-year presidential term to a four-year, two-term system, allowing a president to serve two successive terms. To pave the way for reforming the Constitution, Lee said he would even be willing to cut short his own term.

While the DPK is well-positioned to lead this important effort, as it holds 161 out of 300 seats in the National Assembly, it still lacks the two-thirds majority required to amend the Constitution. It will need cooperation from all political parties and the electorate. The main opposition People Power Party (PPP), which had responded with calls for Lee to state that he will not seek reelection if the revision is carried out, went further Tuesday. Rep. Jeong Jeom-sig, PPP floor leader, said the party would not engage in amending the Constitution with the Lee administration.

For the DPK, constitutional reform is a party initiative. But even within the ruling party, small rifts have emerged over the unilateral push for a contentious special counsel bill that would enable an independent prosecutor to rescind past erroneous indictments, including those involving the president.

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik had also earlier prompted protest and skepticism when he mentioned constitutional reform in a press conference he held upon taking office in July. He said that a sitting president's eligibility to seek another term under a rewritten Constitution "will be ultimately up to the people."

Making such a statement with ambiguous caveats can drive political uncertainty, which is detrimental for the government and the nation, especially as it faces a myriad of other challenges. Seoul is facing pressure of taking on more of the cost burden for its defense alliance with Washington, as well as implementing a $350 billion investment commitment in the United States amid tariff threats. Domestically, the widening gap among generations over housing and job availability has driven up social discontent. Support for the president and the ruling party have both slid to the 30 percent range, indicating that trust in the administration is on a continuous decline.

To give a boost to this constitutional amendment initiative, which the president categorized as a way to ensure responsible politics, he will need to assure the public that he does not plan on seeking reelection. A possible revision to the Constitution is an important national issue, and it must rest on public trust, not to benefit the administration or the ruling party. Public trust will bring respect for the law, as an institution for democracy needed in this era. In order to do so, the president should categorically reject any possibility of a second term as stipulated under the Constitution that we currently uphold.

社论指出，在首尔就宪法改革展开辩论之际，李在明总统应坚决拒绝连任。社论认为，根据宪法第128条，任何延长总统任期的修正案均不适用于现任总统。文章指出，除非李在明明确排除连任的可能性，否则他支持四年两届的总统制，而共同民主党则力推宪法修正案，这可能会造成政治上的不确定性。

韩国执政的共同民主党在国会300个席位中拥有161席，距离修改宪法所需的三分之二多数席位还差很远。

宪法第 128 条规定，延长总统任期或允许连任的修正案不适用于修正案通过时正在任的总统。

社论称，总统和执政党的支持率已降至30%左右。

首尔还面临着在与华盛顿的联盟中承担更多防务责任以及在关税威胁下履行对美国3500亿美元投资承诺的压力。

发布于2026年9月8日下午1:36（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月8日下午2:37（韩国标准时间）

执政阵营力推39年来首次宪法修订

韩国执政党共同民主党委员长金珉锡周一在国会发表讲话，他呼吁进行宪法改革，并提倡更合作的政治环境以及其他行政政策。（韩联社）

宪法改革已成为韩国政治的焦点，因为许多人指出，现行宪法（1987 年修订）在允许总统直接选举方面存在局限性。

总统任期一届的限制已不再适用于一个在多个领域崛起为全球领导者的国家所面临的挑战。执政党、总统和专家们越来越认同这一观点，他们认为现行制度会削弱政策的连续性和有效的长期领导。

周一，韩国执政党共同民主党（DPK）新任党首金珉锡向国会议员发表讲话，称该党“将在尊重宪法和法律程序原则的前提下，寻求切实可行的宪法修正案，以反映时代的变化和人民的需求”。

撇开寻求共识不谈，根据宪法第128条的规定，任何延长总统任期或允许连任的宪法修正案均不适用于现任总统。简而言之，如果宪法在其任期内进行修改，李在明总统将无法连任。

民主党领袖李明博的言论可以被解读为寻求一项符合宪法修正案的方案，该方案主要将现任总统排除在修正案适用范围之外。然而，解读具有主观性，语境也至关重要。李明博曾多次表示，应将现行的五年总统任期改为四年两届制，允许总统连任两届。为了推动宪法改革，李明博甚至表示愿意缩短自己的任期。

尽管共同民主党在国会300个席位中占据161席，具备领导这项重要工作的优势，但仍未达到修改宪法所需的三分之二多数。它需要所有政党和选民的合作。主要反对党国民力量党此前曾呼吁李明博表态，如果宪法修正案获得通过，他将不再寻求连任。周二，国民力量党进一步表态，其党团领袖郑严实议员表示，该党不会与李明博政府合作修改宪法。

对朝鲜民主主义人民党而言，宪法改革是一项党内倡议。但即便在执政党内部，也因单方面推进一项备受争议的特别检察官法案而出现一些分歧。该法案将授权一名独立检察官撤销过去的错误起诉，包括涉及总统的起诉。

国会议长赵正植此前在7月就职记者会上提及宪法改革时，也曾引发抗议和质疑。他表示，根据修改后的宪法，现任总统是否有资格竞选连任“最终将由人民决定”。

发表此类含糊不清的声明会加剧政治不确定性，这对政府和国家都极为不利，尤其是在政府面临诸多其他挑战之际。首尔正面临着承担更多与华盛顿防务联盟成本的压力，同时还要在关税威胁下履行对美3500亿美元的投资承诺。在国内，住房和就业机会方面代际差距的扩大加剧了社会不满。总统和执政党的支持率均已下滑至30%左右，表明民众对政府的信任度持续下降。

为了推动这项被总统视为确保负责任政治途径的宪法修正案倡议，他需要向公众保证自己不打算寻求连任。对宪法进行可能的修订是一项重要的国家议题，必须建立在公众信任的基础上，而非为了政府或执政党的利益。公众信任将带来对法律的尊重，而法律是当今时代民主制度不可或缺的一部分。为此，总统应明确拒绝任何根据现行宪法规定连任的可能性。