Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, on the 29th addressed the controversy over a "constitutional amendment for the incumbent president's consecutive terms," ignited by comments from National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik, and said, "Dragging the president into political offensives to hinder efforts to revive the economy is nothing more and nothing less." He added in particular, "To sum up the president's position, Korea's constitutional order does not allow it, the public will not easily accept it, and it is practically impossible." He said that not only is it unconstitutional, but Cheong Wa Dae is not pursuing a consecutive-terms amendment.
Kang met reporters at the Chunchugwan press center at Cheong Wa Dae that day and said, "President Lee expressed this view even when he was a candidate before the presidential election." On his personal view, he said, "What is in Article 128, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution should not be shaken going forward. It is a historical consensus we must uphold," and "A constitutional amendment to extend the presidential term or allow consecutive terms would not apply to the president at the time the amendment is proposed."
He went on, "The reasons a constitutional amendment is needed include 5·18 (enshrining the spirit of the democratization movement in the preamble of the Constitution), and there are too many pending issues, including those related to the National Election Commission," adding, "So while the National Assembly speaker explained (his previous remarks) and the president clearly said it is not possible, it is regrettable that this keeps being dragged into political wrangling."
Kang said, "The president is on an overseas trip and is busy focusing on delivering various state affairs results. Real estate, stock prices, and the livelihood economy are extremely important right now," adding, "There is no time to pay attention to unnecessary and inappropriate debates. Cheong Wa Dae is focused solely on improving people's livelihoods and helping Korea leap forward, and the president thinks the same."
◇ Head of the legislature says at roundtable, "A consecutive-terms amendment is for the people to decide"
The remarks in question came at a National Assembly press roundtable that Cho held the previous day for the first time since taking office. In response to a question asking, in effect, "What do you think about the opposition rejecting a constitutional amendment out of concern that President Lee Jae-myung's term could be extended?" Cho said, "A constitutional amendment related to an incumbent president serving consecutive terms is ultimately a matter for the sovereign people to choose, and it depends on how the political stakeholders reach an agreement."
The opposition immediately pushed back, saying, "This is laying the groundwork to extend the administration for President Lee to serve consecutive terms." As controversy grew, Cho's side explained, "It was a principled position that any overhaul of the power structure should proceed based on public consensus and political agreement." But the controversy continues because Cho served as a special political adviser to President Lee and, during the race for the speakership, was counted as a pro-Lee senior lawmaker known as the so-called "Myeong pick."
The People Power Party said, "President Lee Jae-myung brought Rep. Cho Jeong-sik in as a special adviser and apparently gave him special training to pursue this kind of constitutional amendment," adding, "Because of the abolition of supplementary investigative authority, Korea is in an uproar, and every system—real estate, the stock market—has been wrecked, yet at a moment like this you are talking about Lee Jae-myung serving consecutive terms?"