What did President Lee Jae Myung say about a second term amid reelection speculation?

Lee said his term is clearly limited under the Constitution during a meeting with the Korean community in Paris. Critics say he still has not explicitly denied pursuing another term, despite the ruling camp saying his comment meant reelection was impossible.

Why is Lee Jae Myung pushing constitutional reform on the presidential term?

He said he needs to begin summit diplomacy early in his term because later opportunities to capitalize on foreign relations will be limited. The administration wants to replace the current single five-year presidency with a system allowing more than one four-year term.

What would be needed for Lee Jae Myung's constitutional amendment plan to pass?

A constitutional amendment would require approval from two-thirds of all lawmakers, so the ruling Democratic Party of Korea would need support from the People Power Party. The opposition has already said Lee avoided making an unequivocal pledge not to seek another term.

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

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Summary

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.

Key Facts

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.

By Yi Whan-woo

Published Sep 10, 2026 2:03 pm KST
Updated Sep 10, 2026 3:08 pm KST

President Lee Jae Myung and first lady Kim Hea Kyung arrive at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday, following a 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.

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