Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung is grappling with a political challenge as public suspicion mounts over his alleged willingness to amend the Constitution to allow presidential reelection. This situation has arisen despite Lee never publicly advocating for such a change. It was National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik who introduced the idea during his press conference, sparking immediate backlash from both the media and the public.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the controversy has adversely affected Lee's public support. Recent opinion polls indicate a decline in his approval ratings, with the latest Realmeter weekly poll revealing a drop to 45.9 percent, down 0.4 percentage points from the previous week. The debate over constitutional changes allowing an incumbent president to seek reelection is cited as a contributing factor to this decline.
Further surveys reflect strong public opposition to revising the Constitution to abolish the current single-term presidency. A Hangil Research-Kookmin Ilbo poll found that 61.2 percent of respondents opposed changing the presidential term, with only 34.5 percent in support. This poll, conducted among 1,000 adults, carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
The controversy originated on July 28, when Cho suggested that the decision on allowing a second presidential term should be made by the people, contingent on political parties reaching an agreement. Despite Cho's later claims that his remarks were taken out of context, political observers speculate that his comments were a deliberate attempt to test public opinion.
As Cho's statements continued to provoke criticism, Lee's approval ratings have suffered. If he does not intend to pursue constitutional revisions benefiting his presidency, political analysts urge him to clarify his stance publicly. Yet, during a recent Cabinet meeting, Lee chose to remain silent, missing an opportunity to address the issue.
The ongoing silence from Lee may perpetuate public misunderstanding and further erode his support, highlighting the necessity for a clear and direct response to the controversy. Without such clarification, the political repercussions are likely to persist.