South Korea's Speaker Faces Backlash Over Remarks on Presidential Term Limits
National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik has come under fire after suggesting at his first press conference that a constitutional revision could leave room to debate whether an incumbent president should be allowed to seek another term. The remarks, made on July 28, 2026, quickly sparked controversy and drew criticism from both opposition and ruling party lawmakers.
During the press conference, Cho said that the issue of allowing a sitting president to seek re-election "ultimately depends on public opinion and the sovereign choice of the people." The comment was interpreted by many as leaving open the possibility that President Lee Jae Myung could run again if the Constitution were amended to allow consecutive terms.
However, the presidential office was quick to shut down that interpretation. On July 29, President Lee's chief of staff, Kang Hoon-sik, told reporters that Lee has ruled out seeking a second term following any constitutional revision. "Our country's constitutional system does not allow it, the people will not condone it, and it is realistically impossible," Kang quoted Lee as saying. He added that Lee had held this position since his presidential campaign.
The Constitution of South Korea currently limits presidents to a single, five-year term. It also stipulates that any amendment extending a president's term or changing reelection rules does not apply to the president in office at the time the amendment is proposed. This provision, found in Article 128, was designed to prevent those in power from using constitutional revision to prolong their rule.
Kang expressed "very strong regret" that the president had been drawn into political controversy despite his clear stance. He noted that Cheong Wa Dae has no time to waste on "unnecessary and inappropriate" discussions while focusing on reviving people's livelihoods.
Speaker Cho later issued a clarification, saying his remarks were misunderstood. In a Facebook post, he wrote that the issue is "not up for discussion." He explained that his comments were meant to describe the basic procedure for constitutional revision, which requires political consensus and popular support. He also expressed "regret" that his remarks caused misunderstanding and controversy.
The backlash came not only from the opposition People Power Party but also from within the ruling Democratic Party, with some lawmakers warning that Cho's comments were inappropriate and risked fueling unnecessary debate. The controversy has also coincided with a reported dip in President Lee's approval rating, which has fallen to its lowest level since he took office in June last year. A recent Realmeter poll put his approval at 45.9 percent, down 0.4 percentage point from the previous week.
Separately, the Democratic Party has advanced a bill through a National Assembly committee that would shorten the fast track review period for designated legislation from 330 days to 90 days. Critics have questioned whether the speaker's push for speedy legislative action conflicts with his role as a neutral mediator between parties.
Speaker Cho was inaugurated in June for the second half of the 22nd parliament, a term that runs until May 2028. He is considered a key member of the pro-Lee faction, having served as the ruling party's secretary-general when Lee was its chairman.