Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, speaks to reporters after attending the 45th anniversary ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Uprising at the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju, on May 18. /National Assembly Press Corps

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea DPK), unveiled his vision for a constitutional amendment on May 18. He proposed holding a national referendum on the amendment either during the local elections next year or the general elections in 2028. It is significant that Lee, who is leading in presidential polls, expressed his firm commitment to amend the constitution, saying, “This time is an opportunity granted by history and the people,” and presented a concrete roadmap. Since other candidates have also pledged constitutional reform, the next administration must move swiftly to implement it.

Lee’s proposal is comprehensive. He called for strengthening presidential accountability while decentralizing power, suggesting a four-year, two-term presidential system as well as a runoff system for presidential elections. The two-term presidential system would allow for a midterm evaluation to enhance accountability, while the runoff system would bolster democratic legitimacy. His plan also includes parliamentary nomination of the prime minister, transferring the Board of Audit and Inspection under the control of the National Assembly, and abolishing the prosecution’s exclusive right to request arrest warrants. To prevent unlawful martial law declarations by the president, the proposal mandates prior notification and approval by the National Assembly for emergency orders or martial law declarations. Lee also emphasized strengthening citizens’ fundamental rights, such as safety, life, and information rights, and proposed establishing a new constitutional body comprising the president, prime minister, relevant cabinet members, and local government leaders to ensure local autonomy. Additionally, his plan includes enshrining the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising in the Constitution’s preamble.

Regarding the timeline, Lee suggested that the amendment be put to a national referendum as early as the local elections next year, or by the general elections in 2028 at the latest. Article 128, Clause 2 of the current Constitution stipulates that amendments extending or altering the president’s term do not apply to the incumbent. Therefore, even if the two-term presidential system is adopted, it would not apply to Lee if he were elected as the president in the upcoming election.

The Constitution Is the fundamental law that defines the principles of national governance and guarantees citizens’ basic rights. It has remained unchanged since its last revision in 1987. With the increasing drawbacks of the winner-takes-all presidential system, it is evident that the so-called “1987 system” needs reform. The Constitution must reflect the dramatic social and political changes Korea has undergone over the past 38 years, including growing public consensus on power-sharing and cooperative governance, shaped by experiences with martial law declarations and impeachments.

Every presidential election cycle, candidates and political parties pledge to pursue constitutional reform. However, once in power, they often become absorbed in wielding authority, only to lose momentum toward the end of their term due to lame-duck status and opposition from potential successors. On the same day, Kim Moon-soo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party (PPP), also presented a constitutional reform proposal including the four-year, two-term presidential system. The key challenge lies in execution. A constitutional amendment cannot be achieved by the president and the ruling party alone. It requires bipartisan agreement. Presidential candidates for the upcoming election must engage in productive debates during the election campaign so that, regardless of who becomes the next president, constitutional reform can proceed. They must not forget that constitutional revision is a demand of the times.