Lee rejects claims constitutional reform would secure another presidential term

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on October 15 rejected claims that he was pursuing constitutional reform to secure another presidential term or reorganise political alignments. In a post on X, he responded to a user who said they had withdrawn support over concerns that his goals had changed, constitutional reform could be misused and other reforms could be weakened. [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]

Lee said changing the constitution required agreement from at least 200 lawmakers, including members of the People Power Party. He argued that he could not amend it as he wished and that those lawmakers would not agree to changes favouring him. He also said that neither a parliamentary system nor a dual-executive system was his preferred direction for constitutional reform. [ 6 , 7 , 9 ]

Addressing criticism of his approach, Lee said the processes, methods and means for reaching his goals had become more pragmatic and cautious since he became president, but the goals themselves had not changed. He said reforms were proceeding faster than promised and invited the user to identify specific measures they considered inadequate, saying he would act within the limits of his capacity. [ 6 , 7 , 9 ]

On prosecutorial reform, Lee described himself as a major victim of the previous administration and some politically motivated prosecutors. He nevertheless said investigation and prosecution were essential to maintaining social order, and that problems with some prosecutors did not justify dismantling or disabling necessary state institutions. He said prosecutors had been stripped of investigative powers and the two functions placed under separate ministries to check one another. The task now, he said, was to ensure the system worked properly. [ 6 , 7 , 11 ]