Lee says his term is 'clearly limited' amid constitutional revision debate

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung disclosed on Wednesday that his presidency is constitutionally limited, prompting him to embark on frequent overseas trips for summit diplomacy. During a meeting with Korean residents in France, the final day of his four-day visit to the country, Lee emphasized that he has scheduled numerous overseas engagements during the early stages of his tenure.

He stated that due to the constitutionally imposed constraints on his term, the benefits of international diplomacy can only be maximized when he initiates these overseas visits promptly. These comments emerged in the wake of suspicions raised by opposition party lawmakers regarding the possibility of President Lee seeking a second term through a constitutional revision.

However, the Constitution stipulates that any changes to the presidential system will not apply to the incumbent president at the time of revision. The president and his ruling Democratic Party have been advocating for a constitutional revision that would transition to a four-year, two-term presidential system.