The move at the National Assembly to start discussing constitutional changes gained momentum over the weekend, with a survey showing that a majority of lawmakers support an amendment and senior members of political parties pushing for a related debate.
The survey, conducted by Yonhap News Agency on all 300 lawmakers, showed Sunday that more than 45 percent of the lawmakers favor a revision to change the current single-term, five-year presidency into two four-year terms.
The survey comes as the politically sensitive issue of revision resurfaced last week with heavyweight politicians, including National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun, calling for a shift in the way the country is run.
According to the survey, 250, or 83.3 percent, of the 300 lawmakers, said they “shared” the need for a constitutional revision.
By party, 77 percent of the ruling Saenuri Party lawmakers said it was necessary to revise the Constitution, while 86.9 percent of lawmakers from the main opposition The Minjoo Party of Korea voiced their support for it. More than 92 percent of lawmakers from the third-largest People’s Party supported a revision.
Compared with the two opposition parties, the ruling party appeared to take a more cautious stance as President Park Geun-hye has been opposed to the revision on the grounds that the issue could divert attention from more urgent issues, such as revitalizing the economy.
The current election system is based on a mixed form of a small electoral system, in which one person represents one constituency, and a proportional representation arrangement. It has long been criticized for worsening regionalism and encouraging elected politicians to focus only on the interests of their provincial voters.
It remains to be seen whether a change in the Constitution could actually happen as there has been little consensus among potential presidential contenders over when and how it should be carried out.
To rewrite the Constitution, either the president or half of the 300 lawmakers have to propose a change in a motion, which must be approved by more than two-thirds of the lawmakers and supported by a majority of voters in a national referendum.
In the survey, 46.8 percent of those polled said they favor a presidential system in which the chief executive is allowed to serve two four-year terms. The current system bars the president from seeking reelection.
Meanwhile, 24.4 percent of lawmakers said they were in favor of a “dual executive system” under which more power is given to the prime minister, while 14 percent supported the adoption of a purely parliamentary cabinet system like the one in Japan.
The dual executive system is a power-sharing model in which the prime minister is given substantial power in handling state affairs, such as public security, economic policies and personnel, while the president is in charge of external affairs, including foreign affairs and defense.
As for the timing of the revision, 47.6 percent of those surveyed said that the revision should be completed before the presidential election in December next year, while 41.2 percent said that the revision should be carried out under the next government.
Meanwhile, the survey also found that 65.6 percent of those in favor of the constitutional revision acknowledged that the revision should come with a change in the current election system. But 28.8 percent of them remained opposed to the change in the election system.
In light of the growing calls, some senior lawmakers appear to be taking a more active stance.
Rep. Won Hye-young.
The Minjoo Party’s fifth-term lawmaker Rep. Won Hye-young over the weekend said that he was picking up the suspended move to launch a cross-party group to discuss constitutional revision.
“As there is high focus being paid to the constitutional change, the discussion will greatly pick up pace if there is a group dedicated to it,” Won told a local media outlet.
“As each lawmaker and each party has different suggestions to discuss the amendment, (the group) will pave a way for the discussion to be conducted in an open manner that fits the spirit of the current times.”
Won had previously pushed to open such a meeting during the 19th Assembly. Prior to his latest move, Won reportedly shared common ground with the party’s members that have been vocal about the need for a change to the Constitution. They include Assembly Secretary-General designate Woo Yoon-keun and Reps. Baek Jae-hyun, Jeon Hae-cheol and Lee Choon-suak.
“The group will also gather members belonging to the Saenuri Party. Rep. Na Kyung-won has also showed willingness to join,” Won was quoted as saying. He has also reportedly relayed his proposal to Saenuri Party’s veteran Rep. Suh Chung-won, who leads the faction loyal to President Park. Suh reportedly responded that he would think about it.
Another pro-Park member and former head of the Korean Constitutional Law Association Rep. Chong Jong-sup has also created a research gathering to “innovate the state,” along with the Minjoo Party’s sixth-term Rep. Moon Hee-sang and People’s Party’s third-term Rep. Yoo Sung-yop.
Within this week, Won said he will send out a letter urging for a full-fledged discussion on the constitutional amendment to the 300 members of the new Assembly.
“A constitutional change is the demand of the times, and the main agent for the change is undoubtedly the National Assembly. No matter what position Cheong Wa Dae takes, it is the Assembly’s job to fulfill its innate role,” Won said on his Facebook page.
