By Kim Bo-eun
President Moon Jae-in urged the National Assembly to reach a consensus on revising the Constitution by the end of next month so the country can hold a referendum on the revision and the local elections slated for June simultaneously.
He said his administration will draw up a draft of the new Constitution if parties fail to reach an agreement.
"There is not much time for the constitutional revision," Moon said during a New Year's press conference at Cheong Wa Dae.
"If necessary, the government will collect public opinions in drawing up the draft of the new Constitution and consult lawmakers."
The ruling and opposition parties are currently at odds over not only the timing in completing Constitutional revision but also the content.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea supports the President's proposition of a public vote during the local elections on June 13, but the main opposition party Liberty Korea Party is contending drawing up a draft by the end of the year.
At the press conference, the President outlined a timeframe for the process _ lawmakers reaching a consensus by the end of February, proposing the revisions in March and conducting a public vote in June. Moon said the government will need to spend an additional 120 billion won in taxes for a separate vote to be conducted.
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Meanwhile, the parties are also at loggerheads over the content of the revision, such as form of government.
However, the President said the government would not arbitrarily push for constitutional revision.
"If the National Assembly and government reach an agreement, then a broader scope of revision will be possible," Moon said.
"However, if a consensus is not reached between the two parties and the government proposes revisions, then the revisions will be minimized to changes supported by the public."
These will likely be revisions that boost fundamental human rights and strengthen local governments, changes that are expected to earn universal support.
Meanwhile, the President mentioned he prefers a four-year, two-term presidency, but said revision on the form of government could be postponed if a consensus is not reached in time.
The Constitution, drawn up in 1987, provides grounds for a direct presidential election system. Currently, the president serves a single five-year term.
Constitutional revision was an election pledge of President Moon.
"With a 30-year-old Constitution, the people cannot be properly represented," he said in his New Year's speech last week.
"In order to better reflect people's wishes in managing the state, the people's sovereignty must be strengthened."
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