Key facts
- President Lee Jae Myung has ruled out seeking a second term, even if the Constitution were revised.
- National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik's remarks on the possibility of constitutional revision sparked controversy.
- Cho stated that the decision on whether to allow an incumbent president another term would be up to the people.
- President Lee's chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, conveyed Lee's stance against a second term.
- Kang expressed regret over the political controversy, emphasizing the administration's focus on economic revival.
President Lee Jae Myung has definitively ruled out seeking a second term, even if the Constitution were to be revised to allow for it, according to his chief of staff. This clarification comes after remarks by National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik were interpreted as leaving the door open for such a possibility.
Cho had stated at a press conference that whether to revise the Constitution to permit an incumbent president another term would ultimately be decided by the people. South Korea's current Constitution limits presidents to a single, five-year term, with amendments to extend terms not applicable to the sitting president.