South Korea President Lee proposes constitutional reform for four-year term

President Lee Jae Myung has proposed a constitutional revision to transition South Korea to a four-year, two-term presidential system. Lee stated that the current 40-year-old constitution is no longer suited to the era and suggested that a system allowing for midpoint evaluations would enhance responsible politics. He expressed openness to shortening his own current term to facilitate this transition and noted that specific details should be determined through bipartisan agreement in the National Assembly.

The proposal includes adding the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju pro-democracy uprising and the Busan-Masan protests to the constitutional preamble. Lee also suggested redistributing certain presidential powers, such as oversight of the Board of Audit and Inspection and certain appointment rights, to the National Assembly to reduce the concentration of power.

Opposition members, including those from the People Power Party, have criticized the move. Critics argue the push for constitutional reform is a tactic to mitigate Lee’s legal risks and avoid accountability. Meanwhile, recent polling shows Lee’s approval rating has dropped to 43 percent, a decline attributed to public confusion over property tax reforms and controversial housing policy suggestions.