President Lee Jae Myung said in Paris that his term is constitutionally limited, in an apparent effort to ease criticism over speculation about extending his presidency through constitutional reform. He made the remark while explaining his overseas diplomacy plans, but the main opposition People Power Party said he still did not explicitly rule out another term. Cheong Wa Dae said his comment meant reelection was impossible, while critics pointed to the need for any constitutional change to apply only to his successor.
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 in office 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.
