Speaker's office clarifies remarks on presidential term limits

National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik's recent comments regarding the potential for a sitting president to serve consecutive terms have ignited a political firestorm. The Speaker's office issued a formal clarification, stating that Cho's remarks were intended to express a general principle about constitutional amendments, emphasizing that such changes require national consensus and political agreement.

In a press briefing, Jang Hyun-ju, the Speaker's senior communication secretary, directly addressed the controversy. She asserted that Cho is fully aware of Article 128, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution, which stipulates that constitutional amendments proposing presidential term extensions or changes do not apply to the president at the time of the proposal. Therefore, Jang stated, reports suggesting Cho opened the door for the current president's term extension are entirely contrary to his intended meaning.

The controversy stemmed from Cho's earlier remarks during his first press conference since taking office. When discussing potential changes to the power structure, Cho stated that the issue of presidential term extension for the current president is a matter of public opinion and choice. This statement was interpreted by some as a signal that the possibility of a sitting president serving multiple terms was being considered.

The clarification from the Speaker's office aims to quell the political backlash and reaffirm the established constitutional framework. The incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding presidential term limits in South Korean politics and the potential for remarks on constitutional reform to be misconstrued or politically exploited.

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The constitutional amendment to extend or change the presidential term shall not apply to the president at the time of the proposal of the constitutional amendment.