Seoul pushes constitutional power grab as Myanmar opposition slams Indias junta talks

Seoul’s ruling coalition pushes constitutional reforms to extend its grip on power, drawing sharp criticism from Washington and regional allies as Myanmar’s opposition condemns India’s diplomatic engagement with the junta.

South Korea’s progressive government, led by President Lee Jae-myung, is advancing constitutional amendments that would remove term limits for the presidency, according to *The Wall Street Journal* . The proposals, framed as a move to "stabilize governance," have sparked accusations of authoritarian overreach from U.S. officials and domestic critics, who warn the changes could entrench a single faction indefinitely. The reforms come as Seoul’s foreign policy pivots away from Washington, with Lee’s administration prioritizing engagement with China and North Korea over traditional U.S. alliances.

In Myanmar, opposition groups have sharply criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing in New Delhi on June 1, calling it a "betrayal" of the pro-democracy movement. India defended the move as pragmatic diplomacy, arguing that isolating the military regime would push it further into China’s orbit. The meeting coincides with renewed international efforts to verify the wellbeing of detained civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, whose status has become a focal point for global pressure on the junta, the *Financial Times* reports .

Regional tensions are further strained by the broader militarization of the Asia-Pacific, with defense budgets surging amid U.S. demands for increased spending from allies. At the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Southeast Asian nations resisted Washington’s calls for a unified front against China, instead advocating for diplomatic neutrality, *Courrier International* notes . The standoff underscores a growing divide between U.S. strategic priorities and the region’s reluctance to choose sides in great-power competition.

The developments reflect a shifting geopolitical landscape where traditional alliances are fraying. Seoul’s constitutional gambit risks alienating Washington at a time when Myanmar’s opposition is increasingly isolated, while India’s balancing act between democracy promotion and realpolitik highlights the limits of Western-led pressure on the junta. With no clear resolution in sight, the coming months may test the resilience of regional partnerships and the viability of democratic resistance in Myanmar.