President Lee: "No Intention to Seek Re-election, Constitutionally Impossible"

President Lee Holds Seventh Press Conference Since Inauguration on the 18th
"Claims to Introduce a Cabinet or Semi-Presidential System Are Groundless"

President Jaemyung Lee stated on September 18, "I have absolutely no intention to seek re-election."

At a press conference held at the Blue House reception hall on this day, under the theme "The Will of the People, The Lives of the People – We Will Care More," President Lee said, “Let me take this opportunity to once again state firmly,” as he made this announcement.

President Jae-myung Lee is holding a press conference at the Blue House Reception Hall on the 18th. 2026.9.18 Yonhap News Agency

President Lee further explained, “My position on constitutional amendments has always been consistent, including the incorporation of the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the Busan-Masan Uprising into the Constitution’s preamble, the strengthening of basic civil rights, the decentralization of some presidential powers to the National Assembly and local governments, and the introduction of a presidential re-election system to enhance policy consistency and governmental stability.”

President Lee emphasized, “Claims by some that I intend to introduce a parliamentary cabinet system or a semi-presidential system are utterly baseless. The possibility of my own re-election through constitutional revision is impossible under the Constitution, and I have stated many times and on numerous occasions that I have never even considered re-election.”

He added, “For this reason, the demand that I formally promise not to seek re-election seems to be a political maneuver meant to create the frame that I am abandoning re-election after contemplating it.”

Additionally, President Lee explained, “The Constitution of 1987, which was a product of compromise considering the political context at the time, no longer fits today’s Republic of Korea. My position on constitutional amendments, including the introduction of a presidential re-election system, has been consistent for a long time.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.