President Lee Jae-myung Puts the Brakes on Constitutional Revision
President Lee Jae-myung has applied the brakes rather than accelerating the push for constitutional revision.
The president conveyed a cautious stance to the Constitution Society, saying in effect that he supports constitutional revision but is worried about a backlash. Given that he has formally acknowledged the need for revision all along, the remark reads as a subtle shift in direction rather than a reversal. Considering that even within the ruling party there has been considerable pushback arguing it is too early to discuss revision, the statement appears to reflect a judgment made at the presidential office level.
Why the Caution Now?
Behind it lies hardheaded political calculation. Constitutional revision is an extremely demanding task, requiring approval from two-thirds of the National Assembly's sitting members and a majority in a national referendum simultaneously. With interparty dialogue effectively frozen, forcing the issue could drain momentum from governance. In particular, the 'backlash' the president voiced is interpreted as referring to political side effects—the risk that the revision debate could be framed as early-election maneuvering or an attempt to extend his grip on power.
The timing is also sensitive. The president recently raised the issue of housing statistics failing to reach the public properly at a Cabinet meeting, and sparked an afternoon controversy by rebutting media coverage as "fake news," arguing it had singled out only Gangnam, Seocho, and Songpa. In this climate, bringing up constitutional revision—a mega political issue—could invite criticism that housing prices and livelihood concerns are being drowned out. Analysts see the cautious stance as a response to this public-opinion landscape.
A Shift in Communication: Launching a YouTube Channel
What is notable is that the president's YouTube channel opened its doors at the same time as the cautious message on revision. With the first broadcast of "The President's Why" already announced, the move can be read as a response to the limits of delivering his message through established media. The president has long experimented with diversifying his communication channels, using social media to solicit public opinions openly. The YouTube launch continues that effort, but it carries different weight in that he will now speak to citizens directly through video.
That said, expanding the president's direct channels could prove a double-edged sword. The opposition and some media outlets have criticized the president for labeling particular reports "fake news" and rebutting them via social media, calling it pressure on the press. With his own broadcasting channel, he may clash with critical voices even more often. The question of communication versus coercion persists into the YouTube era.
What the Meeting with the Constitution Society Signals
The meeting with the Constitution Society is noteworthy in the context of the cautious stance on revision. The organization has been broadening its scope of activities, including signing a business agreement with Zens as the first Korean company to become a public-interest project partner of a local government. In telling the group that he remains in favor of revision while stressing a careful approach, the president appears to be signaling not that he will shelve the issue, but that he intends to adjust its timing and sequencing.
The picture becomes clearer when looking at his governance priorities. In his State Affairs address to the National Assembly on the 2nd, the president spoke of inequality and polarization while stressing "growth for all," and he has been delivering anti-speculation messages day after day through field visits. It is an expression of priorities: stabilizing livelihoods comes before discussing constitutional revision. As seen in the case of South Jeolla Province drawing up a southwestern development plan—including a 500-bed hospital and a law school at Mokpo University—based on the president's instructions in early September, the presidential office seems to prefer tackling long-term tasks on a foundation of trust built by resolving local issues.
The cautious approach to constitutional revision is expected to persist for some time. With the two parties unable to restore trust, assembling a two-thirds majority is structurally difficult, and given that the president himself voiced concern about a backlash, the administration is highly likely to concentrate its energies on livelihood and economic tasks rather than revision for the time being. Instead, direct communication through YouTube and social media is expected to expand more aggressively. The scenario: broaden points of contact with citizens to solidify the public base, then play the constitutional revision card.
As Lord Acton said, liberty is not a means to a higher political end—it is itself the highest political end. Likewise, constitutional revision should not be an instrument of power but an end in itself: rebuilding the order of citizens' lives. Whether the president's caution proves a masterstroke of pacing or reduces the revision debate to empty form will ultimately hinge on the next sentence—his ability to persuade the public of what the revision is meant to change.
