Lee Jae-myung again calls for constitutional revision to redistribute presidential powers

President Lee Jae-myung has again emphasized constitutional revision, saying South Korea needs to strengthen presidential responsibility while distributing executive powers more effectively.

Lee made the remarks in a written interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, released on September 7 while he was on a state visit to France. He repeated a proposal he outlined last month to transfer some presidential powers to the National Assembly, including authority over the Board of Audit and Inspection, the right to recommend the prime minister, and parts of the appointment power.

He said constitutional changes should also tighten the requirements for declaring emergency martial law and include the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement in the preamble. An amendment containing these provisions failed to move forward in May after the People Power Party did not participate.

Le Monde said Lee’s effort also focuses on preventing a repeat of the political crisis triggered by the former president’s declaration of martial law in December 2024. Lee, who worked as a factory laborer before becoming a human-rights lawyer and entering politics, said he would ensure that “democracy won through countless sacrifices is never threatened again.”

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Democracy won through countless sacrifices is never threatened again.