Cho Jung-sik sparks controversy with remarks on amending the Constitution for presidential consecutive terms... Speaker's office emphasizes its principled stance

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeongsik stirred controversy on the 28th by saying that the issue of amending the constitution to allow a sitting president to run for reelection is “ultimately a matter of the people’s choice as sovereign.” The remarks were made at his first press briefing after taking office, and were followed by interpretations that he was leaving open the possibility of President Lee Jaemyung seeking another term. Speaker Cho also said that “it is premature to talk about it now,” explaining that any related discussion should proceed through political consensus and the views of the Constitutional Amendment Advisory Committee or a special committee on constitutional reform. However, Article 128 of the Constitution stipulates that a constitutional amendment to extend the term of a sitting president or change the rules on consecutive terms has no effect for that president, prompting criticism that under the current Constitution, an amendment to allow reelection is impossible. After the remarks, criticism continued from both the political world and academia. The Speaker’s Office moved to calm the backlash, saying it was a “fundamental position based on national consensus and political agreement,” but even within the ruling party, there was a sense of bewilderment that the comments failed to take timing and realism into account.