Lee Takes 'Homework Test' Before Public... Direct Answers on Second Term and Hormuz Strait Dispatch, Leaves Room for Trial and Appointments

On the 18th, President Lee Jae-myung took a clear stance on the issues of second-term candidacy and deployment to the Strait of Hormuz that are drawing national attention, but deferred conclusions on certain current issues including his trial after his term and the appointment of Justice Minister nominee Kim Seung-won.

President Lee held a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae's Yeongbin Hall on the day and fielded questions regarding state affairs including constitutional amendment, trials, real estate, personnel, capital markets, and diplomacy and security.

The clearest line was drawn on the second-term issue.

President Lee reconfirmed the necessity of a constitutional amendment allowing second terms, but regarding his own future stated, "I will say once more with firm resolve. I have absolutely no thought of running for a second term." He maintained the position that the timing and method of constitutional amendment would follow consultations between the ruling and opposition parties in the National Assembly and the convergence of public opinion.

On the Strait of Hormuz deployment issue, he also stated firmly, "There will be no dispatch involving or participating in war."

However, he noted that activities to protect Korean merchant ships, oil transport routes, and national safety are necessary, and indicated that ways to strengthen existing Cheonghae unit operations are under review. While drawing a line at war participation, he left open the possibility of expanded military activities for national safety.

Meanwhile, on his trial issue, answers were left incomplete on some questions.

A reporter asked whether the special prosecutor investigating alleged fabricated charges would be granted authority to withdraw indictments, and whether President Lee would clarify his position not to withdraw indictments on his own case or whether he would agree to stand trial after his term ends.

President Lee requested deletion of clauses related to indictment withdrawal in the special prosecutor bill pending in the National Assembly that would allow transfer and disposal of existing indicted cases. However, he did not take a separate position on whether he would resume the currently suspended trial after his term ends.

Personnel matters were also left inconclusive.

Regarding former Minister for Gender Equality and Family Yong Hye-in's withdrawal as nominee and controversies surrounding nominee Kim, President Lee stated, "It was our shortcoming to not anticipate and prepare for such matters," and said he would reinspect the personnel system.

However, on whether to appoint nominee Kim, he said, "I have not yet reached a final conclusion," and stated he would decide carefully considering the nominee's capabilities, the raised controversies, and the public's expectations.

On economic current issues, he reconfirmed his will to stabilize the real estate market and acknowledged there were shortcomings in the process of introducing single-stock leveraged ETFs.

Regarding the real estate issue, President Lee expressed his position to stabilize the market by all means, while on the leveraged ETF introduction process, he said, "It appears to be true that there were shortcomings in the policy." However, he explained that he has not yet grasped in detail through what process the ETF introduction was decided.

In the diplomacy and security sector, he maintained his existing stance of responding to North Korea-U.S. dialogue and U.S. investment issues based on national interests and national safety. He evaluated that North Korea-U.S. dialogue could serve as an opportunity for resuming North Korea-South Korea dialogue and stated that prior coordination between South Korea and the U.S. is ongoing.

At today's press conference, President Lee also addressed the recent decline in state affairs approval ratings, saying, "In the end, all of those things combined were due to my shortcomings," and "I lacked consideration, I lacked delicacy, and I lacked communication."

While there were matters like second-term candidacy and war involvement dispatch on which direct lines were drawn on controversies, trial matters and ministerial nominee appointments remained as current issues that require monitoring of subsequent decisions even after today's press conference.