President Lee's path to re-election also blocked after case withdrawal

As President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating hit its lowest point since taking office, voices emerged from within the ruling party on the 14th calling on the president to personally clarify his position on the withdrawal of charges (a procedure by which prosecutors unilaterally end a trial already underway) and on constitutional amendments to enable a second term.

Yoon Geon-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker, wrote on Facebook on the 14th, "It seems the president will soon hold a press conference," adding, "He must abandon the notion that he can't back down." He stressed, "The essence of the recent decline in public opinion is a collapse of the foundation of trust. Regarding matters that are undermining public confidence in governance — such as the withdrawal of charges and the constitutional amendment for re-election — he needs to settle them cleanly, to the point where people say 'that was more than enough.'" Yoon added, "Nothing but the president's sincerity can win back the supporters who have left."

Rep. Song Young-gil said on BBS radio on the 14th that he himself opposes the constitutional amendment for re-election, saying, "Even among the Democratic Party's 161 seats, I'm one of the first to oppose it — how could it ever pass the National Assembly?" He also said, "It's a matter for the president to decide; he will likely settle it after hearing public sentiment." On the withdrawal of charges, he stated, "It has been my consistent view that there is no need to include the authority to withdraw charges in the special counsel law."

On the re-election amendment, President Lee responded to figures from civic groups on the 4th of this month, in effect saying, "It's like being told to promise 'I won't steal' — why should I even have to say such a thing?" At a meeting with overseas Koreans in Paris, France, on the 9th, he noted, "My term is clearly limited under the constitution."

Nevertheless, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk has continued his offensive, criticizing the president for evading the issue. Lawmakers of the ruling party are known to have conveyed to the presidential office the need to clarify its position. The presidential office is considering a press conference by President Lee this week.