Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
Presidential term limits could shift depending on who wins election
Lee Jae-myung, left, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, and his rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, shake hands ahead of a televised debate at the KBS main studio in Seoul, May 23. Joint Press Corps
By Jung Da-hyun
Leading candidates back four-year terms, but clash on reelection and leader’s tenure
Tuesday's presidential election could fundamentally reshape the nation's highest office, as leading candidates offer starkly different visions for constitutional reform. The contentious debate extends beyond the immediate term of the next president, aiming to redefine the very foundations of presidential power for generations to come.
While both major contenders acknowledge the pervasive public desire to curb what has been criticized as excessive presidential powers and decentralize governmental authority, their proposed amendments diverge significantly. These disagreements are particularly pronounced regarding the critical issues of presidential term limits and the overall structural framework of the executive branch, signaling a potentially profound shift in how Korea is governed.
Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has proposed a constitutional amendment to introduce a four-year, consecutive-term presidency, replacing the current single five-year term. The plan, he said, is aimed at strengthening presidential accountability and distributing executive power.
Emphasizing the importance of responsible governance, Lee argued that permitting reelection would enable a midterm assessment of the administration’s performance, thereby strengthening political accountability.
To strengthen democratic legitimacy and ease political polarization, Lee also proposed introducing a runoff voting system in presidential elections.
As part of a broader effort to curb excessive presidential powers, Lee proposed restructuring the balance of authority between the president and the prime minister. Under his plan, the prime minister would be appointed based on the recommendation of the National Assembly, thereby strengthening parliamentary oversight and ensuring that the president respects the prime minister’s role.
In addition, Lee vowed to introduce a constitutional provision that would restrict presidential veto powers over legislation related to crimes involving the president or their immediate family members.
People Power Party (PPP) candidate Kim Moon-soo has also pledged constitutional reforms to rein in excessive presidential authority, agreeing on the need to redistribute executive power.
He proposed replacing the current single five-year presidential term with a two-term, four-year system, arguing that the existing structure hampers political accountability and undermines long-term stability.
He also vowed to significantly revise the scope of presidential authority to curb executive powers.
As part of these reforms, Kim pledged to abolish the president’s privilege of immunity from prosecution while in office and to appoint a special inspector recommended by the opposition party.
Additionally, he proposed cutting the number of lawmakers by 10 percent and abolishing their special privileges.
Campaign posters of presidential candidates are seen at an apartment complex in Seoul, Monday, a day before the presidential election. Yonhap
Lee’s proposal for a four-year consecutive-term presidency and Kim’s plan for a two-term, four-year presidential system sparked controversy over their interpretation and potential implications.
Both candidates agree on shortening the presidential term to four years. However, Kim expressed concerns that Lee’s plan could pave the way for extended rule, arguing that the term "consecutive-term presidency" might be interpreted to allow a president to serve two terms, take a break, and then run for two more. Kim urged Lee to clarify his position.
Kim further clarified that his proposed two-term system would permit a single reelection, but strictly cap the total presidential term at eight years.
In response, Rep. Yun Ho-jung, general director of DPK’s central election committee, firmly rejected Kim’s claim, stating that Lee’s proposal only allows for one consecutive reelection and does not include any provision for returning to office after a break.
While both candidates support decentralizing presidential power, Lee and Kim presented starkly different views on the length of the next presidential term.
Lee proposed holding a national referendum on constitutional reform during either next year’s local elections or the 2028 general elections, aiming to align the cycles of the 2030 local elections and the following presidential race.
Under his plan, the next president's five-year term would remain unchanged, making him — if elected — the last to serve under the current single-term system.
In contrast, Kim called for a more immediate overhaul, pledging to shorten the next presidential term to three years to align future presidential and general elections on a four-year cycle starting in 2028.
Framing it as a step toward political reform, Kim vowed to push through the constitutional amendment and, if elected, serve only three years in office.