[Full Statement] President Lee: "I Have Absolutely No Intention to Seek a Second Term; Public Disappointment Is Due to My Shortcomings"

President Lee Jae-myung stated on the 18th, "I have absolutely no intention of seeking a second term." Regarding the recent sharp decline in approval ratings for his administration, he expressed his regret, saying, "I feel deeply apologetic" and humbly added, "It is all due to my shortcomings."

At a press conference held at the Blue House State Guest House on this day, themed "The Will of the People, The Lives of the People, We Will Pay Closer Attention," President Lee stressed, "The claims from some quarters that I am trying to introduce a cabinet system or a dual executive system are completely groundless." He underscored, "It is constitutionally impossible for me to serve a second term through constitutional revision, and I have repeatedly stated on numerous occasions that I have never even considered a second term."

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

President Lee also apologized, saying, "Faced with so many challenges, I was too preoccupied and failed to properly understand the hearts of many people." He added, "Focusing on proving my commitment not through bold statements or declarations, but through results achieved by action, I did not sufficiently empathize with the inevitable conflicts and pain arising in the process of improving people’s livelihoods, pursuing reform, and seeking unity."

Continuing, President Lee admitted, "In the face of small achievements and the great support sent by the people, my sense of fear and humility diminished," and confessed, "Since the power entrusted to me is to be used solely for the people and the country, I should have acted with even greater humility and servitude." On the difficult situation in people's livelihoods, he added, "Even though the economic indicators are said to be improving, I did not respond more proactively to questions such as, 'Why is my life not changing?' or 'No, why is it getting worse?'"

Below is the full statement from President Lee.

Full Statement

Dear respected and beloved citizens of Korea,

As your humble servant and representative, I greet all of you in anticipation of Chuseok, the most cherished major holiday in our nation. I offer my sincere apologies to all the people of this country who continue to face difficult daily lives under challenging circumstances.

From the moment I took up the heavy responsibility of being ultimately accountable for the fate of the nation and the people, I have been mindful of every remaining moment I have to serve during these past 472 days, holding nothing back and striving to do my best.

Since my inauguration, I have devoted all my strength to overcoming the economic, social, diplomatic, and security crises before us and to cultivating seeds of new hope for the future.

I have tried never to lose the initial resolve with which I asked for the opportunity and power not for status or authority but to work for all.

However, after the local elections, it is also true that I was somewhat taken aback by the sudden disappointment and concerns voiced by the public.

After much deliberation and reflection, I arrived at the conclusion that "the people are always right." It is all due to my shortcomings.

Preoccupied by too many urgent tasks, I failed to properly understand the feelings and concerns of a broader segment of the public.

Because I was convinced that I must prove my commitment through results, not by assertions or declarations, I did not sufficiently empathize with the pain and conflict that inevitably arise in the process of improving livelihoods, pursuing reform, and achieving unity.

In the face of small achievements and the overwhelming support of the people, I became less fearful and less humble.

Since power must be used solely for the people and for the country, I should have served with even more humility and dedication.

I will renew my sense of fear before the public and approach everything with greater care, greater humility, and greater diligence.

The ultimate goal of state affairs is to improve livelihoods — in other words, to achieve better lives for the people and a brighter future for the nation.

I will never forget the resolve I made on the night of the December 3, 2024 insurrection, when I rushed to the National Assembly with a heavy heart, nor the citizens who, without names or honor, gathered in the Assembly that night and faced off against the martial law troops' guns and armored vehicles.

Even though economic indicators are said to be improving, I did not do enough to respond to questions such as "Why is my life not changing?" or "No, why is it getting worse?"

Overcoming the economic crisis and restoring growth, as well as substantially improving people's lives, are both crucial objectives. Neither should be neglected.

Rather than excusing myself by saying that overcoming the crisis and restoring growth took priority or that I did my best for the people's livelihood, I commit to focus even more on improving the people's lives, just as much as on recovery and growth.

As we pursue reforms that will fundamentally reshape the lives of the people and the nation’s future, I am reflecting on whether I sufficiently empathized and communicated with those who may have suffered losses in this process, and whether I have been too reluctant to find common ground with those desiring bolder, more decisive reforms.

The people of Korea did not endure the insurrection and establish a government based on popular sovereignty just to change the color of the ruling regime.

I believe the stern mandate was to eliminate privilege and injustice, inequality and irrationality that threaten the lives of the people, to build a true democratic republic where the people are sovereign, and to create a country where everyone can share in the opportunities and fruits of growth—a nation full of hopes and dreams, where the people are happy.

The hopes and expectations that you, the people, have had for Lee Jae-myung as mayor of Seongnam, as governor of Gyeonggi Province, as party leader, and as president have remained unchanged throughout.

Your wish has been for a fair nation that does not allow the powerless to be wronged and does not allow any power to reign above the people, where justice prevails and everyone prospers together in a hopeful world of mutual respect.

Even though my workplace has changed throughout my political life, my goal and values for reform have never wavered for a moment.

Whether it was when I resolved to enter politics in the basement prayer room of a community church in front of Seongnam City Hall, or now, as I steward this grand ship called Korea with you toward a better future, the Korea I dream of has never changed.

If there is a difference, it is that now I am no longer one who merely asserts what I believe is right; as the highest official responsible for state affairs, I must achieve tangible results with the authority the people have entrusted to me, in a harsh reality.

They say reform is even more difficult than revolution. Resistance from vested interests is as hard as concrete when it comes to making necessary changes for a more rational and just society. Yet the support from those whose lives improvements will actually benefit is often scattered like grains of sand.

The authority given to elected officials is the power to overcome such opposition. My responsibility and capacity as president is to overcome resistance and transform scattered grains of sand into concrete in order to establish a new order.

My concern has been that, in striving for clarity in reform, I might provoke greater resistance, thereby slowing the speed of reform or even leading to failure.

Like the previous administration's attempted medical reform—while the noise publicized the government's will to reform, in reality, it produced nothing but increased social turmoil. I am determined never to repeat that mistake.

Ultimately, I believe a government's success is measured by tangible achievements in the people's lives on the final day of its term. Guided by this belief, I have sought to minimize resistance and focus as quietly as possible on achieving results.

I have believed that being evaluated through the improvement in people's lives at the final stage, rather than gaining attention with dramatic words or tactics during the process, is the truest way of repaying the faith of the people.

This is the origin of my principle of being "the President of all the people." Because this path was unfamiliar, it was by no means easy. I have continuously wrestled with how to harmonize the method, pace, and scope of reform and integration.

Sometimes I have been criticized for blurring reform by seeking integration, and at other times, my sincerity for national unity was questioned as I pressed ahead with reforms.

However, I can say with certainty that it is the approach and method that we lacked, not the direction in which we must move forward.

The historic mandate to live out the spirit of the "Alliance of Light" for comprehensive societal reform remains Lee Jae-myung’s unchanging compass as the "Reform President."

I will tighten the laces of my shoes once more.

To ensure that those who believed, trusted, and gave me affection through historic hardship will not face further disappointment; to minimize the pain and sense of loss of those who are challenged by the reform process; I will communicate more, respect more, and be even more cautious and considerate.

Even among those who look toward the same goal, there may be differences of opinion about which way is faster or safer.

Please do not allow minor differences in direction or method to lead to suspicion of the sincerity of those who once stood together and looked to the same goal.

My heart aches to see those who risked their lives to overcome the insurrection and together establish a government of popular sovereignty now exchanging words of hatred with one another.

It pains me to see any among us—who once dreamed and acted together for a better world, sharing the ideals of democracy, progress, and reform—now being singled out, wounded, and hurt as objects of exclusion.

We who aspire toward democracy, progress, and reform and who act for a better world are all close companions—pro-Moon, pro-Roh, pro-Kim Dae-jung, and Lee Jae-myung’s comrades.

There may be many causes and factors for this painful reality, but as the leader of the No. 1 Democratic Party and as the person ultimately accountable for the administration, I take the greatest responsibility.

Even if you feel resentment and wish to assign blame, please direct your criticism toward me and my government. I will listen more, communicate more, and reach out first.

I will do my utmost, with utmost determination, so that minor differences do not become reasons for exclusion but a force for finding better answers.

Respected citizens, I will responsibly complete the historic mission of irreversible prosecution reform.

After long efforts, prosecution reform has reached its conclusion with the exclusion of prosecutorial investigative powers and the separation of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Central Investigation Agency—effectively completing the "separation of investigations and indictments."

The purpose of prosecution reform is to ensure that the powers and functions of investigative and prosecutorial agencies, dedicated to protecting human rights, victims, and public order, are not abused for politically motivated investigations and indictments.

It must not be the case that failure of investigative and prosecutorial functions to work properly causes harm or impedes the protection of victims and citizens' human rights.

I will thoroughly review and improve the system to ensure that prosecution reform fully protects citizens' rights and victims, and that not a single instance of unjust harm, not even the tiniest gap, occurs, and that the prosecution devotes itself entirely to upholding public order fairly and justly.

Any issues arising from the absence of the prosecution’s supplementary investigative authority will be addressed with robust oversight and compensatory mechanisms regarding police investigations.

Through strong police reforms, I will ensure that concerns of the police reverting to an unchecked power institution under monopoly of investigative authority are eliminated.

The President of the Republic of Korea must be president for all Koreans. Although only one presidential candidate with different values and agendas is chosen by the people, that person, once President, must represent all citizens.

Even so, the values, convictions, and policies presented by the President must continue to respect the will of those citizens who supported them.

I will not abandon the values of reform and progress that I presented to the people, but will strive to reflect the broad rational opinions of the majority through communication and dialogue as the "President of Unity."

I will give careful consideration to prevent appointments and policies aimed at promoting unity from becoming sources of division or conflict, and will collect public opinion even more widely.

Although they may seem different—and even conflicting—people’s livelihoods, reform, and unity ultimately converge into a single path.

Reform must serve to improve the people’s lives, and unity is the very foundation for implementing and continuing meaningful reforms with a larger portion of the nation.

I will demonstrate these commitments not with words, but with results, steadfastly advancing along the path of people’s livelihoods, reform, and unity, in accordance with the people’s will.

In the realms of politics, economy, society, culture, diplomacy, security, and countless others, I have made numerous promises for reform to the people.

By faithfully keeping each and every promise as well as undertaking the many remaining tasks, I will build even greater trust and make Korea an irreplaceable nation, delivering better lives for the people.

By persistently pursuing recovery and growth, I will ensure that all people can equally share in the opportunities and fruits of growth.

I will steadfastly stabilize the real estate market to avoid the "lost 30 years" that we will inevitably face if we continue on the present course.

I will break the single-core system of the Seoul metropolitan area, which is the fundamental obstacle to stabilizing housing prices, and pursue balanced national development by promoting multi-core growth centers nationwide, unwaveringly advancing the goal of balanced national development.

Through firm and rapid implementation of policies on supply, regulation, and the tax system, as well as sufficient communication with stakeholders, I will minimize confusion and resistance and ensure housing price stability.

I will complete the long-standing administrative capital construction project as swiftly as possible, easing the overconcentration in the capital region and achieving balanced national development. I will usher in an era of "dual capitals"—Seoul as the economic capital and Sejong as the administrative capital—much like New York and Washington, D.C., in the United States.

I will create a safe and peaceful country and a hopeful, happy world where not only the vulnerable but all citizens can thrive.

The 1987 Constitution, a product of political compromise, no longer suits today’s Korea.

I will make efforts so that constitutional revision can be achieved through rational debate among the political community and national consensus.

My consistent stance on constitutional revision includes the incorporation of the May 18 Gwangju democratization movement and the spirit of the Busan-Masan Uprising in the preamble, strengthening citizens’ fundamental rights, partially decentralizing presidential powers to the National Assembly and local governments, and introducing a consecutive terms presidency for coherence in policymaking and stable governance.

The suggestions from some quarters that a cabinet system or dual executive system will be introduced are completely unfounded.

It is constitutionally impossible for me to serve a second term through constitutional revision, and I have repeatedly stated that I have never even considered seeking a second term.

That is why I have considered demands to "promise not to seek a second term" to be merely a political offensive trying to frame me as if contemplating then forgoing a second term.

Nevertheless, I once again make my stance clear at this moment: I have absolutely no intention of seeking a second term.

In the Republic of Korea, sovereignty belongs to the people, and all powers—including appointment powers—emanate from the people.

I will honor the will of the people, the sovereign, as much as possible in exercising all national power, including personnel administration. This is an opportunity to re-examine the personnel appointment system as well.

As I always say, although it may seem that politicians run politics, in the end, it is the people who do so. The people are always right.

It was the people who called me, someone from the political periphery, to this very position as the nation’s top official responsible for Korea.

Guided by the collective intelligence of the people, relying only on the people, I will move forward courageously for a better future for Korea.

With greater humility, I will serve the people more, and I will do my utmost to become the "President for People’s Livelihoods" who brings about tangible change in the lives of the public, the "Reform President" who solves the long-standing missions and historic objectives of a democratic government, and the "President of Unity" who creates a society where we live together, overcoming conflict and confrontation.

Dear citizens, we now stand at the heart of a historic transformation in the security and economic landscape of our nation.

In times like this, unity and the strength to move forward together are more important than ever. I believe that the power, will, and wisdom of the united Korean people are the sources and foundation of our national strength and interests. I will once more recall the heart I held when I first entered politics.

If I were to say that I have never wavered, or never felt exhausted, it would not be true.

But I believe that, like the needle of a compass, the unwavering commitment of a politician always points the way forward, even as it is constantly shaken.

I will never lose my original intent and will put my trust solely in the people. Remembering the trust and expectations you, the people, have given me, and the promises I made to you, I pledge to carry out the affairs of state with a profound sense of responsibility.

Thank you.

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