Lee dismisses conspiracy theories linking constitutional reform to re-election, political realignment

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday drew a clear line against speculation in political circles that he is pursuing constitutional reform to secure a second term or engineer a political realignment. He also urged the ruling camp to pursue practical, high-quality reform rather than neutralizing institutions, amid internal controversy over governance reforms including the overhaul of the prosecution service.

Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Lee said his methods had become more pragmatic and deliberate since taking office — given that he must now represent all citizens and bear final responsibility for everything, not just a portion of the public or his supporters — but that his fundamental goals had not changed.

"I have long said that all my policies and aspirations reflect the hardships I and those around me have lived through," he said. "My commitment to building a world where we live together cannot and must not change — that is a pledge I renew every day."

Lee shrugged off allegations that his push for constitutional reform was politically motivated. "Any amendment requires the agreement of more than 200 National Assembly members, including those from the People Power Party, so I cannot amend the constitution as I please, and they would never agree to changes that favor me," he said. "A parliamentary system or a dual-executive system — the arrangements some are worried about — are not the direction I prefer anyway. People can now move past the conspiracy theories about re-election-driven reform or constitutional change for political realignment that some have been spreading."

Lee also addressed the pace and quality of governance reforms since taking office. "Reform is proceeding more swiftly than promised, and we have achieved a great deal in just over a year," he said. "If anything, some have pointed to reform overload or reform fatigue because so many initiatives are being implemented at once."

He was particularly direct about his approach to prosecutorial reform. "I was the biggest victim of the previous administration and the reckless political prosecutors," Lee said. "Investigation and indictment are essential functions for maintaining social order, and a capable investigative and prosecutorial organization is necessary. Some prosecutors are compromised, but not all of them — there are prosecutors who dedicate themselves entirely to the public and the nation."

"Essential state institutions and systems must not be dismantled or neutralized simply because they have problems or because someone has been harmed by them," he said. "Genuine, practical reform means keeping the functions working while minimizing the potential for abuse and side effects."

Lee said prosecutors had been stripped of 100 percent of their investigative authority, and that investigative and prosecutorial functions had been separated and placed under different agencies to provide mutual checks. "The important task now is to make this system work properly," he said. "If you give it a little more patience and lend your strength, we will be able to move closer to the world where we all live together that everyone hopes for."