Lee Meets Korea Constitutional Association, Says "It Would Be Best for the National Assembly to Lead" on Proposal for Constitutional Reform During His Term

Constitutional Association President Jeong Daecheol proposes a decentralized presidential system and stronger local autonomy
Lee: "Public acceptance may be low if the president leads reform"
"Dialogue and communication are essential... Advice from p

President Lee Jaemyung expressed agreement on Nov. 4 with the need for constitutional reform, while taking a cautious stance on amendments led by the president. His position was that constitutional reform should preferably be pursued by the National Assembly through bipartisan agreement, as amendments without political consensus may receive little public support.

President Lee Jaemyung speaks at a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on Nov. 3, 2026. Yonhap News Agency

Kang Yujeong, senior presidential spokesperson, said in a written briefing on Nov. 4 that President Lee had held a luncheon meeting at Cheong Wa Dae with the leadership and executives of the Korea Constitutional Association, exchanging views on constitutional reform, political cooperation and the direction of state affairs.

At the meeting, Association Chairman Jeong Daecheol proposed that President Lee pursue constitutional reform during his term. Jeong praised Lee for prioritizing communication and democracy in governing and asked him to take the lead in dialogue and mediation to foster coexistence, cooperation and political unity. He particularly emphasized the need to shift from an imperial presidency to a decentralized presidential system and strengthen local autonomy, and proposed pursuing constitutional reform during Lee's term. The transfer of wartime operational control was also discussed.

In response, President Lee agreed that constitutional reform was necessary, saying the current Constitution does not adequately reflect the changes in the times. He also acknowledged that some parts of the Constitution are like clothes that no longer fit modern society. However, he expressed concern that amendments led by the president could receive less public support. He also cited the requirement for approval by at least two-thirds of all National Assembly members as a practical barrier to passing a constitutional amendment.

Taking these constraints into account, President Lee said it would be preferable for the ruling and opposition parties to find areas of agreement in the National Assembly and pursue constitutional reform on that basis. He agreed on the need for constitutional reform, but said broad political consensus should come first in determining how and through what procedures to proceed.

He also emphasized the need to restore dialogue and compromise in politics. Expressing regret that politics has lost some of its role as a forum for rational debate, President Lee said dialogue and communication are essential, just as one must compromise even with an adversary. He added that the experience and advice of political elders are urgently needed, and called on the Korea Constitutional Association to play a more active role in promoting dialogue and unity in political circles.

Members of the association who attended the luncheon also stressed that the benefits of economic growth should improve people's lives. One member praised President Lee's recent policy address for emphasizing growth for everyone, not just a few, and underscored the importance of harmony between the ruling and opposition parties. Other members proposed measures to address social polarization and appointing a person in charge of cybersecurity, often referred to as a "cybersecurity czar."

Members also assessed President Lee's recent efforts to address people's livelihoods, including visits to rural and fishing communities to promote a basic income, as well as his efforts to improve relations between South Korea and Japan. One member said that while hunger was the problem in the past, policymakers must now also address the pain of relative deprivation, stressing that economic growth should lead to greater happiness for the public.

In response, President Lee stressed that the purpose of politics is to improve people's lives and that state administration should therefore be pragmatic. He underscored the importance of pragmatism, moderation and dialogue across government policies, including efforts to improve relations between South Korea and Japan, and repeatedly emphasized the value of the "Way of the Mean."

Regarding the economy, he said the government had worked to turn around difficult economic conditions since taking office and that recent economic indicators were showing some gradual improvement. He stressed, however, that better economic indicators must lead to improvements in people's everyday lives that they can actually feel.

As the meeting drew to a close, members of the association joked that President Lee, a former lawmaker, was also a member of the association. Lee responded with a laugh. He promised to carefully consider the suggestions he received that day, bringing the luncheon to a close.

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