President Lee Jae Myung Says, "My Term Is Clearly Limited by the Constitution"—Directly Quelling Reelection Amendment Controversy

【Financial News Paris, France = Reporter Seong Seok-woo】Amid an ongoing political controversy over a constitutional amendment allowing reelection, President Lee Jae Myung, who is on a state visit to France, said directly on July 9 (local time), "My term in office is clearly limited by the Constitution."
Lee made the remarks at a luncheon meeting with Korean residents in France held in central Paris, explaining why he had concentrated summit diplomacy on the early part of his presidency.
Lee said, "In fact, meetings between leaders and summit diplomacy provide good opportunities in trade, investment and the security environment for the Republic of Korea, which is truly an open trading nation." He added, "The countries I visit as part of plans I have developed see a marked increase in their export growth rates."
He continued, "Not to mention cooperation between companies, there are also effects such as increased activity among Korean residents abroad." He emphasized, "In any case, because my term in office is clearly limited by the Constitution, we must start quickly to reap those benefits."
He added, "No matter how good a relationship is established in the latter part of my term, its use will inevitably be limited at that point."
Lee's remarks came as he explained the effects of summit diplomacy, but they became entangled in the recently emerging controversy over a constitutional amendment allowing reelection. The opposition has continued to raise questions about the possibility of Lee's reelection, and a related dispute also took place during the National Assembly's interpellation session that day. The People Power Party is demanding that Lee personally state that he has no intention of seeking reelection.
Hong Ihk-pyo, senior political affairs secretary at Cheong Wa Dae, also said the previous day, in connection with the reelection amendment controversy, that Lee cannot seek reelection under the current Constitution and that Lee himself has never considered doing so. Hong indicated that Lee could personally state his position on the matter soon.
On the final day of his state visit to France, Lee will meet with Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly of France, attend a luncheon meeting with Korean residents in France, and receive Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He will then set out to return home.
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