Joo Chung-sik, the Speaker of the National Assembly, stated that the issue of re-election for the current president is ultimately up to the will of the people.
During his first press conference since taking office on July 28, Joo responded to a question about the possibility of a constitutional amendment extending the current president's term, saying, "The issue of re-election related to the restructuring of power is ultimately a matter of public opinion and the choice of the people."
This statement drew strong criticism from members of the People Power Party, including Representative Jang Dong-hyuk, Representative Kim Ki-hyun, and Representative Yoon Sang-hyun, who labeled it as a "theory of constitutional amendment for long-term rule" and a "legislative coup."
In response to opposition claims of 'constitutional destruction' and reports suggesting that Joo had opened the door for the re-election of President Lee Jae-myung, the Speaker's office clarified that Joo is aware of the constitutional provision stating that re-election does not apply to the president at the time of the amendment.
As the controversy grew, Jang Hyun-joo, the spokesperson for the Speaker's office, explained in a briefing that Joo's remarks reflect a fundamental position that any constitutional amendment should be pursued based on public consensus and political agreement. He added, "Joo is fully aware that Article 128, Section 2 of the Constitution states that provisions for term extension or re-election do not apply to the president at the time of the amendment, and he did not intend to suggest the possibility of re-election for the current president."
Meanwhile, regarding the timing of a constitutional amendment, Joo suggested that next year, when there are no elections, would be an appropriate time to initiate discussions, proposing that both ruling and opposition parties form a special committee for constitutional amendment. He also stated that bills passed by the standing committees and the Legislative and Judiciary Committee should be processed within the current session as a principle of National Assembly operations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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