Constitutional reform must not serve partisan interests, national unity chief says at Jeju forum

Lee Seok-hyeon, chairman of the Presidential Committee on National Unity, said Wednesday that any future constitutional reform must not be driven by the interests of particular political factions, and pledged to push for constitutional provisions that would curb the abuse of AI-related power.

Speaking at the opening of the 2026 Korea Enterprises Federation Jeju Summer Management Forum at Lotte Hotel in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Lee said AI is "a matter of protecting democracy and the future of our community," adding that "the AI age must be designed with the Constitution as its foundation."

Lee said national unity requires recognizing and embracing differences, not simply gathering with those who already agree. "Applauding among people who think alike is not unity," he said.

He said future constitutional amendments should address major issues such as presidential term limits and re-election rules, but the more pressing priority is establishing a constitutional basis for AI governance. "We must newly define modern fundamental rights that were not conceived of as basic rights in the past," he said.

Lee said AI fundamental rights are directly tied to national unity, warning that if the benefits of AI innovation are concentrated among a few, the technology could become a new source of conflict and inequality even as it raises South Korea's overall competitiveness.

"The core task of the AI age is not technological competition itself, but ensuring that the fruits of technological progress are shared by all citizens and that no one is left behind in the process of change," he said. "Only when the gains of innovation reach everyone will a new path to national unity in the AI age truly open."