{
  "id": 886842,
  "title": "Lee backs four-year, two-term presidency even if it shortens his term",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/lee-backs-four-year-two-term-presidency-even-if-it-shortens-his-term",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-14T16:42:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20260815/lee-backs-four-year-two-term-presidency-even-if-it-shortens-his-term"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Lee Jae Myung recently reiterated his backing for a four-year, two-term presidential system, even though it would potentially reduce his own term length. In a statement on social media, he emphasized that this policy aligns with his campaign pledge and ongoing support for constitutional reform.\n\nLee explained that the proposed change would allow voters to evaluate the president's performance at the halfway point, while also bolstering local autonomy and safeguarding citizens' fundamental rights. He highlighted that the current Constitution, which has been in place for four decades, is no longer appropriate for the modern era.\n\nAccording to Article 128 of the Constitution, an extension of the presidential term cannot apply to the individual serving when the amendment is proposed. As the Constitution ages, a majority of the people have expressed their agreement on the necessity of a revision.\n\nIf such a revision were to be implemented, Lee suggested that the precise terms should be decided by the National Assembly in a collective decision-making process.",
  "summary": "President Lee Jae Myung on Friday reiterated his support for a four-year, two-term presidential system through a constitutional revision, stressing that he is also open to shortening his term. \"It has been my campaign pledge and consistent position that we should pursue a constitutional revision to introduce a four-year presidency allowing either nonconsecutive or consecutive terms, enabling…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "(LEAD) Lee reiterates support for four-year, two-term presidential system",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/lead-lee-reiterates-support-for-four-year-two-term-presidential-system",
        "published": "2026-08-14T11:09:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Lee backs four-year, two-term presidency even if it shortens his term",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/lee-backs-four-year-two-term-presidency-even-if-it-shortens-his-term-887740",
        "published": "2026-08-14T16:52:04.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}