By Choi Ha-young
President Moon Jae-in said Thursday he will push for a referendum on constitutional revision in June next year, in tandem with local elections.
Moon revealed the plan during a press conference to mark his 100th day in office.
Moon said he will basically accept any constitutional revision bill submitted by the National Assembly, but indicated he could push for a bill if parties fail to reach a consensus.
Since January, inter-party efforts have been under way to gather ideas from politicians, citizens and experts about how to revise the Constitution.
"If the National Assembly fails to form a consensus about the popular sovereignty, the administration can organize a separate committee tasked with making a revision bill," the President said.
"Anyhow, it's clear that the nation will complete the constitutional amendment in June next year, through the special committee in the Assembly or a separate one under the administration."
Legally, a majority of the incumbent lawmakers or the president can submit the revision bill. It further requires a majority vote in a referendum after the bill is passed by two-thirds of votes in the Assembly.
By floating his plan to submit a separate bill, Moon urged the Assembly to come to an agreement quickly, sources said. Chief of the special committee, Rep. Lee Ju-young of the conservative Liberty Korea Party (LPK), clearly stated the Assembly's leading role in drawing up the revision bill.
"Extreme presidential authority gave impetus to the amendment. Then what would happen if the President himself attempts to carry through his demand in the revision?" Lee said in a media interview Wednesday.
The massive corruption scandal that eventually ousted ex-President Park Geun-hye triggered talks on constitutional revision. Experts and senior politicians have said that centralized presidential power is the origin of the collusive link between the presidential office and family-run conglomerates. While running for the presidency, Moon and most of the candidates adopted the revision call.
The members of the parliamentary committee are known to have agreed to expand fundamental human rights and bolster the self-government system, but the central government structure has been a main disputed point.
The ruling camp prefers a U.S.-style four-year, two-term presidency, while the opposition bloc is in favor of a semi-presidential system that empowers the prime minister to take control of internal affairs.
Four parties ― the Democratic Party of Korea, the People's Party, the Bareun Party and the Justice Party ― are backing the major and medium constituency system that can facilitate a multiparty system, but the largest opposition LKP is against it.
Before creating the final revision bill at least by April, the Assembly is scheduled to organize hearings with citizens. From Aug. 29, the hearing will kick off in Busan and continue in 11 cities. To establish the public consultation, the Cabinet meeting approved a 5.18 billion won ($4.55 million) budget Wednesday.
President Moon Jae-in said Thursday he will push for a referendum on constitutional revision in June next year, in tandem with local elections.
Moon revealed the plan during a press conference to mark his 100th day in office.
Moon said he will basically accept any constitutional revision bill submitted by the National Assembly, but indicated he could push for a bill if parties fail to reach a consensus.
Since January, inter-party efforts have been under way to gather ideas from politicians, citizens and experts about how to revise the Constitution.
"If the National Assembly fails to form a consensus about the popular sovereignty, the administration can organize a separate committee tasked with making a revision bill," the President said.
"Anyhow, it's clear that the nation will complete the constitutional amendment in June next year, through the special committee in the Assembly or a separate one under the administration."
Legally, a majority of the incumbent lawmakers or the president can submit the revision bill. It further requires a majority vote in a referendum after the bill is passed by two-thirds of votes in the Assembly.
By floating his plan to submit a separate bill, Moon urged the Assembly to come to an agreement quickly, sources said. Chief of the special committee, Rep. Lee Ju-young of the conservative Liberty Korea Party (LPK), clearly stated the Assembly's leading role in drawing up the revision bill.
"Extreme presidential authority gave impetus to the amendment. Then what would happen if the President himself attempts to carry through his demand in the revision?" Lee said in a media interview Wednesday.
The massive corruption scandal that eventually ousted ex-President Park Geun-hye triggered talks on constitutional revision. Experts and senior politicians have said that centralized presidential power is the origin of the collusive link between the presidential office and family-run conglomerates. While running for the presidency, Moon and most of the candidates adopted the revision call.
The members of the parliamentary committee are known to have agreed to expand fundamental human rights and bolster the self-government system, but the central government structure has been a main disputed point.
The ruling camp prefers a U.S.-style four-year, two-term presidency, while the opposition bloc is in favor of a semi-presidential system that empowers the prime minister to take control of internal affairs.
Four parties ― the Democratic Party of Korea, the People's Party, the Bareun Party and the Justice Party ― are backing the major and medium constituency system that can facilitate a multiparty system, but the largest opposition LKP is against it.
Before creating the final revision bill at least by April, the Assembly is scheduled to organize hearings with citizens. From Aug. 29, the hearing will kick off in Busan and continue in 11 cities. To establish the public consultation, the Cabinet meeting approved a 5.18 billion won ($4.55 million) budget Wednesday.
