Seoul: Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung on Sunday proposed a constitutional amendment to introduce a four-year presidential term with the possibility of one re-election, alongside a runoff voting system. His plan also aims to disperse presidential power by requiring parliamentary consent or recommendation for appointing key officials, including the prime minister and heads of law enforcement agencies. Lee suggested that the proposal be put to a national referendum during either the 2026 local elections or the 2028 general election.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this marks a significant shift for Lee, who had previously shown limited commitment to constitutional reform despite growing public demand following last year’s declaration of martial law. As the leading candidate in most polls, Lee’s initiative to propose changes aimed at decentralizing presidential power is a meaningful step that warrants serious attention.

In response to Lee’s proposal, People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo also presented a reform plan. His proposal includes allowing presidential re-election, abolishing presidential immunity from prosecution while in office, and synchronizing presidential and general election cycles by shortening the next president’s term to three years. For either plan to come to fruition, the incoming administration must swiftly push for the establishment of a constitutional reform committee in the National Assembly. Given the magnitude of what would be Korea’s first constitutional revision in 38 years, intense and open debate across party lines will be essential.

The Sixth Republic, established with the 1987 Constitution, played a crucial role in solidifying Korea’s direct presidential election system and advancing its democracy. However, as society has evolved, the current structure has revealed its limitations. The winner-takes-all presidency has often resulted in excessive political confrontation rather than restraint. Presidents have frequently clashed with opposition parties instead of pursuing compromise, and Parliament has often been more focused on political attacks than governance. Recent abuses, such as the Democratic Party’s repeated impeachment motions and former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law, demonstrate that the current system is nearing its breaking point.

The demand for constitutional reform is deeply rooted in Korea’s modern political history. Since 1987, four of Korea’s eight presidents have been imprisoned, and one died by suicide. Three were impeached by the National Assembly, with two removed from office by unanimous Constitutional Court rulings. Former President Moon Jae-in also faces trial on bribery charges. Since the death of Roh Moo-hyun, no former president has left office without scandal or legal trouble, and many experts view these recurring crises as the result of a flawed power structure.

While campaign promises on constitutional reform are often easier made than kept, it is crucial for candidates to treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves-not just as a gesture for votes but as a foundational commitment to break the cycle of political turmoil. Voters, too, must demand sincerity. Ending the spiral of presidential misfortune and institutional instability requires more than slogans; it demands structural change led by leaders with both resolve and vision.