President Lee Jae Myung apologized for what he called his shortcomings and said he would not seek re-election during a somber Sept. 18 press conference at the Blue House. His remarks came as Gallup Korea reported that his approval rating had fallen to 37%, a new low for the fourth consecutive week, while disapproval rose to 56%. Lee said he would not pursue a constitutional amendment that could potentially allow consecutive presidential terms, urged the National Assembly not to cancel his indictments through a Democratic Party-backed bill and called for safeguards against controversy over any withdrawal of indictments linked to alleged fabricated charges. He also addressed ministerial appointments, rising housing prices and the introduction of single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds, acknowledging flaws in the ETF policy and saying its timing worsened investor losses. People Power Party leaders Jang Dong-hyeok, Jeong Jeom-sig and lawmaker Lee Jong-bae criticized the press conference and demanded stronger accountability, with Jang calling for Lee to step down. They challenged his handling of indictments, housing and governance, while Lee Jong-bae said Seoul-area property prices had reached unprecedented levels and that average apartment jeonse prices exceeded 600 million Korean won. Jeong announced an ETF special counsel effort, citing alleged public losses of 54 trillion won, and the party announced a Public Report Meeting at the National Assembly on the 22nd.