Assembly speaker says incumbent president's second term 'not up for discussion'

The parliamentary speaker clarified Wednesday that he was not suggesting an incumbent president could seek another term under a revised Constitution after his remarks fueled controversy over the possibility of President Lee Jae Myung's reelection.

During a press conference the previous day, National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik said an incumbent president's eligibility to seek another term is "ultimately the choice of the people," prompting opposition lawmakers to question whether he had left open the possibility of Lee seeking a second term.

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Cho explained that his remarks were misunderstood in a Facebook post, saying the issue is "not up for discussion." Article 128 of the Constitution stipulates that the extension of the presidential term shall not be effective for the president in office at the time the amendment is proposed.

"At the press conference, I meant to explain the basic procedure that a constitutional revision, including changes in the power structure, requires political consensus and support from the people," he added.

Cho also expressed "regret" that his remarks caus ...