Jeong Dae-cheol proposes power-sharing reform; Lee warns presidential-led revision risks low public acceptance

'Dialogue essential even with adversaries'; nominal growth rate seen topping 20% as Lee stresses improving lives

President Lee Jae Myung is seen deep in thought during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung is seen deep in thought during a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung hosted the leadership of the Constitutional Association of Korea at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday for a luncheon meeting, exchanging views on political reform, constitutional revision and the economy. While acknowledging the need for constitutional reform, Lee said the process should be driven by bipartisan consensus in the National Assembly rather than by the president.

Cheong Wa Dae Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing that day that Lee had held the luncheon with Constitutional Association Chairman Jeong Dae-cheol and other executives of the organization.

In his opening remarks, Jeong thanked Lee for serving as a president committed to communication and democracy, then put forward three proposals: dialogue and coordination to foster cooperative and inclusive politics; a constitutional amendment within the current presidential term to shift from an imperial presidency to a power-sharing model and strengthen regional decentralization; and the repatriation of wartime operational control.

Lee responded warmly, saying he had "wanted to invite these senior lawmakers sooner," and expressed regret that politics had lost its role as a forum for reasoned debate. "Dialogue and communication are essential — even with adversaries, one must be willing to compromise," he said, adding that "the wisdom and counsel of political elders are sorely needed. I hope the Constitutional Association's role will continue to expand."

On the question of constitutional reform raised by Jeong, Lee acknowledged the need while making clear that Assembly-level consensus must come first. "Considering the circumstances of our time, the current constitution fits modern society like an ill-fitting garment in some respects," he said, signaling agreement in principle, but cautioned that "a presidential-led revision may face low public acceptance." He added that securing the support of two-thirds of Assembly members required for any amendment "is itself a high bar," and said "it is preferable for the ruling and opposition parties to find common ground in the National Assembly and build from that consensus."

During the luncheon that followed, association members offered a range of policy suggestions. One member pointed to the large numbers of foreign tourists around Gyeongbokgung as a sign of South Korea's rising global standing, while another expressed strong support for Lee's recent visits to farming and fishing communities as part of his focus on everyday livelihoods. Members also praised his policy address emphasizing "growth for all," and called for ruling-opposition harmony, measures to address social polarization and the introduction of a cybersecurity czar. Alongside compliments on efforts to normalize South Korea-Japan relations, one member offered the observation that "if hunger was the problem in the past, we must now also attend to envy," urging that economic growth translate into greater happiness for ordinary citizens.

After listening to the elders' counsel, Lee said "politics must be pragmatic, as its purpose is to improve people's lives." He also stressed that "pragmatism, moderation and dialogue matter — in improving South Korea-Japan relations, which many association members praised, as in national policy more broadly — and above all, the path of moderation is most important."

Lee also touched on economic performance and the direction of his administration going forward. "Since the launch of the people's sovereignty government, we worked hard to turn things around from a situation of national debt and negative growth in early last year, and as a result economic indicators are gradually showing more room to breathe," he said. He added that a projected nominal growth rate of more than 20 percent "must also reach the people as a tangible improvement in their own lives."

Near the close of the meeting, association members offered a lighthearted remark that Lee himself was also a member of the Constitutional Association. Lee responded with a broad smile, saying he would "carefully consider every word the association's leadership has shared," before bringing the gathering to a close.


sunpine@heraldcorp.com