[Exclusive] "Ban on Running More Than Three Times in the Same District 'Potentially Unconstitutional'"... Lee Jae-myung Changes Stance

Lee Jae-myung Meets Fellow Party Lawmaker, Says "There Is a Risk of Unconstitutionality"
Supports Democratic Party Reform Proposal Banning Candidacy During Presidential Race
Reflects Resistance from Over 20% of Three-Term Lawmakers
Concerns Over Decline in Party Reform Momentum

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering opening remarks at the launch ceremony and press conference of the Committee for Measures Against the Livelihood and Economic Crisis held at the National Assembly on the 13th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 19th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] It has been confirmed that Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, recently expressed the view that it is excessive to outright ban candidacy regarding the ‘ban on running for more than three consecutive terms in the same electoral district’?a political reform proposal he put forward during the presidential election?due to constitutional issues. While he conveyed concerns that it could infringe upon voting rights guaranteed by the Constitution, criticism is expected to arise that this stance reflects the political interests of the party’s over-20% three-term lawmakers and hinders internal reform.

According to comprehensive reporting on the 21st, Lee expressed to close aides since late last month during the party convention period that ‘there are constitutional issues that require review’ regarding the ‘ban on running for more than three terms in the same electoral district.’ This is interpreted as conveying opinions that the Constitution does not impose term limits on National Assembly members and that it could infringe upon rights such as the right to hold public office, the right to be elected, and freedom of occupational choice.

This marks a shift from his position during the last presidential election. Earlier this year, when the party’s Internal Party Reform Promotion Committee announced the ban on three consecutive terms in the same district as a reform measure, Lee supported it, saying, "It is desirable in the sense that moving to a different district creates new opportunities for political innovation."

Lee’s change of stance appears to reflect not only constitutional concerns but also opposition from key senior lawmakers with three or more terms within the party and the comprehensive political stakes tied to the outcome of the next general election. Currently, there are 40 Democratic Party lawmakers with three or more terms (1 six-term, 5 five-term, 11 four-term, 23 three-term). Among them, 36 have served three consecutive terms in the same district, accounting for 21.3% of the entire Democratic Party caucus (169 members).

On March 1st, Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, issued a "Joint Declaration for Political Change" during the unification process with Kim Dong-yeon, then the New Wave presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, and announced a proposal to prohibit more than three consecutive terms for members of the National Assembly.

Within the party, senior lawmakers with three or more terms have consistently pointed out that the ‘ban on more than three consecutive terms’ could block politicians from accumulating expertise and might even constitute reverse discrimination. A senior Democratic Party lawmaker said, "While it is reasonable to evaluate politicians’ capabilities and score them, like the ‘Kim Sang-gon Innovation Committee’ in 2015, mechanically blocking political entry based solely on the number of terms actually hollow out politics." Another senior lawmaker added, "It is more realistic to apply a point deduction system within a reasonable range, similar to giving extra points to first-term lawmakers, women, disabled persons, and youth."

A representative from the party leader’s office explained, "If all lawmakers with more than three terms in the same district were banned from running, the side effects would be considerable, so there are indeed many concerns," adding, "This is an issue that requires deliberation and review."

However, criticism is also expected that this could dampen the momentum for party reform, which was justified under the banner of ‘political change.’ This is because the original reform proposal, which defined senior lawmakers with three consecutive terms in the same district as ‘vested interests’ and aimed to give opportunities to younger politicians, would be significantly set back.

Jang Kyung-tae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party who proposed the revision of the Public Official Election Act in February during the presidential election period, which included the ‘ban on running for three terms in the same district,’ said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "At the time of the proposal, there was controversy over its constitutionality, so it was not applied retroactively, but due to criticism, a strengthened bill was introduced," adding, "If there are significant side effects or criticism regarding the ‘ban’ on candidacy, we can gather consensus and propose a supplemented political reform bill."