President moves to quell reelection talk, but stops short of explicit denial

President Lee Jae Myung said in Paris that his term is constitutionally limited, as speculation grew that he wants to extend his presidency through constitutional reform. He also said he had been making overseas trips to pursue summit diplomacy early in his term. The remark did not end criticism, and the main opposition party said he still had not explicitly ruled out another term.

The president said in Paris on Wednesday local time that his term is clearly limited under the Constitution.

He arrived back in Korea on Thursday after the state visit to France.

Lee said he was arranging multiple overseas trips in his second year in office to begin summit diplomacy early and maximize later benefits.

The administration is pushing a constitutional revision that would replace the current single five-year presidency with a system allowing more than one four-year term.

A constitutional amendment would need support from two-thirds of all lawmakers, meaning it would require backing from the People Power Party.

Published Sep 10, 2026 2:03 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung wave before boarding the presidential aircraft at Paris Orly Airport, Wednesday (local time), after Lee completed his state visit to France. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung has stressed that his term is constitutionally limited, in what was seen as an attempt to defuse controversy amid speculation that he wants to extend his presidency through constitutional reform.

His remark, however, appears to have fallen short of ending the criticism, with the main opposition party criticizing him for not explicitly denying that he intends to seek another term.

“In any event, my term is clearly limited under the Constitution,” the president said during a meeting with the Korean community in Paris on the final day of his state visit to France, Wednesday (local time). He arrived back in Korea on Thursday.

Lee’s comment came as he explained why he had arranged multiple overseas trips during his second year in office under Korea’s current single five-year presidency.

“Even if I build strong relations with other countries later in my term, there will inevitably be limited opportunities to capitalize on them ... I need to begin summit diplomacy early to ensure that its benefits can be enjoyed for as long as possible,” he added.

Although Lee was explaining his diplomacy efforts, his remark drew attention to Korea's current presidential term limit amid the Lee administration's push for a revision to the Constitution.

His proposal includes replacing the current single five-year presidency with a system allowing a president to serve more than one four-year term.

The president has never explicitly ruled out seeking another term. Critics insist that any new system should apply only to his successor, particularly because several criminal trials he faced before his election were suspended after he took office.

Cheong Wa Dae interpreted the president’s remark as signaling that his reelection was not an option.

“I believe he was saying that what some people describe as reelection is completely impossible and cannot even be considered,” Sung Ghi-hong, senior presidential secretary for public relations and communication, said in a radio interview Thursday.

Asked whether Lee’s remark could be understood as meaning that he would not pursue a constitutional amendment enabling his reelection, Sung said, “I think it can be interpreted that way.”

Sung nevertheless left open the possibility that Lee could address the issue more directly at a future public event.

Also on Thursday, the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) rejected the president’s comment, arguing that Lee had deliberately avoided making an unequivocal pledge.

“His remark came as he was explaining his frequent overseas trips, rather than answering a direct question about reelection,” PPP leader Chang Dong-hyeok said, accusing the president of dodging the issue.

PPP floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik called the remark “nothing more than wordplay that marks no change from his previous position,” saying the president must pledge not to amend the Constitution for his own political benefit.

The dispute comes as multiple polls show the president’s approval rating repeatedly hitting new lows amid controversies over domestic issues, including real estate policy, financial products, a proposed merger of military academies and personnel appointments.

Although the ruling Democratic Party of Korea holds a majority in the National Assembly, a constitutional amendment requires approval from two-thirds of all lawmakers, meaning it would need support from the PPP.

李在明总统在巴黎表示，他的任期受宪法限制，此前外界猜测他希望通过修宪延长任期。他还表示，在其任期初期，他已多次出访海外，以推进峰会外交。此番言论并未平息批评，主要反对党指出，他仍未明确排除连任的可能性。

总统于当地时间周三在巴黎表示，根据宪法，他的任期有明确的限制。

结束对法国的国事访问后，他于周四返回韩国。

李表示，他将在执政第二年安排多次海外访问，以便尽早启动峰会外交，并最大限度地发挥后续效益。

本届政府正在推动一项宪法修正案，该修正案将用允许连任多届（每届四年）的总统制度取代目前单一的五年总统任期。

宪法修正案需要三分之二的立法者支持，这意味着它需要人民力量党的支持。

发布于2026年9月10日下午2:03（韩国标准时间）

周三（当地时间），结束对法国的国事访问后，韩国总统李在明和夫人金喜京在巴黎奥利机场登上总统专机前挥手致意。（韩联社）

李在明总统强调，他的任期受宪法限制，此举被视为试图平息外界对他希望通过宪法改革延长总统任期的猜测。

然而，他的这番言论似乎并未平息批评，主要反对党批评他没有明确否认自己打算寻求连任。

“无论如何，根据宪法，我的任期是有明确限制的，”总统在结束对法国的国事访问后，于周三（当地时间）在巴黎会见韩国侨民时表示。他于周四返回韩国。

李在解释为何在韩国现行的五年单一总统任期制度下，他在执政第二年安排了多次海外访问时发表了上述评论。

“即使我在任期后期与其他国家建立了牢固的关系，也必然会有一些机会可以利用这些关系……我需要尽早开始峰会外交，以确保能够尽可能长时间地享受其带来的好处，”他补充道。

尽管李在解释他的外交努力，但他的这番话引起了人们对韩国现行总统任期限制的关注，而李政府正在推动修改宪法。

他的提议包括用允许总统连任多个四年任期的制度取代目前单一的五年总统任期。

总统从未明确排除寻求连任的可能性。批评人士则坚持认为，任何新的制度都应仅适用于他的继任者，尤其因为他在当选前面临的几项刑事审判在他就职后被中止。

青瓦台将总统的言论解读为表明他没有连任的可能。

“我认为他的意思是，有些人所说的连任是完全不可能的，甚至不能考虑，”总统府公共关系和沟通高级秘书成基洪周四在接受电台采访时表示。

当被问及李的言论是否可以理解为他不会寻求修改宪法以实现连任时，宋表示：“我认为可以这样理解。”

不过，Sung并未排除Lee在未来的公开场合更直接地谈论这个问题的可能性。

周四，主要反对党人民力量党（PPP）驳斥了总统的言论，认为李光耀故意避免做出明确的承诺。

人民进步党领袖张东赫表示：“总统是在解释他频繁出国访问的原因时发表了这番言论，而不是直接回答有关连任的问题。”他指责总统回避这个问题。

人民进步党党团领袖郑严植称此番言论“不过是文字游戏，与他之前的立场并无二致”，并表示总统必须承诺不会为了自己的政治利益而修改宪法。

此次争端发生之际，多项民调显示，由于房地产政策、金融产品、拟议的军事院校合并以及人事任命等国内问题引发争议，总统的支持率屡创新低。

尽管执政的韩国共同民主党在国会中占据多数席位，但宪法修正案需要三分之二的议员批准，这意味着它需要人民进步党的支持。