South Korea’s Opposition Attacks President Lee Over Refusal to Rule Out Another Term

The People Power Party has challenged President Lee Jae-myung to say just four words, “There will be no second term,” after he reportedly dismissed demands for such a pledge as similar to asking someone to promise not to steal.

Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk made the criticism in a Facebook post on the 5th. He wrote that Lee appeared to acknowledge that seeking another term was like stealing, yet still refused to say he would not pursue it if constitutional reform went ahead. Jang argued that a pledge was necessary because of what he called Lee’s record.

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There will be no second term, and I will stand trial. Is saying these words really so difficult?

Jang accused the president of having stopped all five of his trials and of pushing a parliamentary investigation, a special committee at the Justice Ministry and a special counsel in connection with efforts to withdraw the indictments. He said an ordinary person would not need to promise not to steal, but added that a person with a theft conviction would need to sign such a pledge before being entrusted with a job.

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It is like telling someone to say they will not steal. Why is it necessary to say it?

Lee reportedly made his remark during a meeting at the Blue House on the 4th with a civic group. Asked whether he should state more explicitly that he would not seek another term if constitutional reform proceeded, Lee reportedly said that would be like being told to promise not to steal. He questioned why he should make such a statement when neither the public nor the National Assembly would accept a constitutional change to allow it.

People Power Party spokesman Cho Yong-sul said Lee had suddenly raised constitutional reform as his approval rating fell. He said many citizens had demanded a declaration of no second term as a sign of sincerity, but that Lee’s refusal was deepening suspicions about what he called a “hidden agenda constitutional amendment.” The controversy grew after National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik said in July that the question of an incumbent president’s eligibility for another term would ultimately be a choice for voters.

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If someone has a record of theft, they would have to sign even a pledge saying they would not steal before they could be entrusted with a job.