Archive · 14 Aug 2026
South Korea's Lee backs four-year presidential terms with re-election
In South Korea, the leader of the country is called the president.
Right now, the president can only serve one term that lasts five years.
President Lee Jae Myung wants to change that rule.
He thinks the president should serve four years at a time and be allowed to run for the job again.
He also wants to give some presidential powers to parliament, which is the group of elected lawmakers.
Lee says the constitution has not been updated for almost 40 years and no longer fits the times.
Some people worry that the president holds too much power, and critics have called this an 'imperial presidency.'
Changing the rules requires support from at least 200 lawmakers in the National Assembly.
Lee says the details of any change should be agreed on together by both political sides.
President Lee Jae Myung said he favors a four-year presidential term that would allow a president to be re-elected and serve more than one term.
He proposed transferring some presidential powers to parliament, including authority over the Board of Audit and Inspection, prime minister nomination, and certain personnel appointments.
Lee said his position matches his 2022 presidential campaign backing a rebalancing of power between the president and parliament and stronger local autonomy.
Yonhap, citing a Blue House official, said the four-year re-election model has the broadest public acceptance and that Lee shares concerns about the concentration of power under the 'imperial presidency.'
Constitutional amendments need support from at least 200 lawmakers, and Lee said details should be decided by parliament through bipartisan agreement, citing a constitution unchanged for nearly 40 years.
- Who
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who shared his stance via a post on X and through a presidential Blue House official quoted by Yonhap.
- What
- A proposed constitutional reform introducing a four-year presidential term with re-election and transferring some presidential powers to parliament.
- When
- Friday, August 14.
- Where
- South Korea, with the announcement reported from Seoul.
- Why
- Lee said the constitution, unchanged for nearly 40 years, no longer suits the times, and he shares concerns about concentrated presidential power under the 'imperial presidency.'
- Country
- South Korea
- President
- Lee Jae Myung
- Proposed system
- Four-year presidential term with re-election permitted
- Current system
- Single five-year presidential term
- Constitution
- Unchanged for nearly 40 years
- Amendment threshold
- Support of at least 200 lawmakers in the National Assembly
- Powers proposed for transfer
- Board of Audit and Inspection, prime minister nomination, some personnel appointments
- Announcement
- Friday, August 14, via a post on X