ed Constitution revision

The ruling and opposition parties have agreed to form a parliamentary body to discuss the revision of the Constitution for the first time. The agreement is of great significance, given that amending the basic law has emerged as an important issue before major political events such as presidential elections but soon subsided.

The current Constitution, the brainchild of the nation’s democratization in the late 1980s, was intended to prevent the extension of military regimes that lasted for decades and thus fixed the presidential tenure to a single five-year term. However, there has been mounting criticism that it has failed to reflect political, social and economic realities that have changed rapidly over the last 25 years.

Criticism has been directed at the single five-year presidency under which the imperial chief executive wields much power but has difficulty in steering the country responsibly because of the frequent power change.

Some critics raise doubts concerning the timing of the bipartisan agreement on the consultative body, noting it comes at a time when North Korea is unleashing fresh threats on a daily basis and economic woes show no signs of ending.

Yet now is the right time to discuss the constitutional amendment, given that no major elections are scheduled for this year and the new administration was launched less than two months ago. Nor are there conspicuous presidential hopefuls at the moment.

In fact, some 70 ruling and opposition party lawmakers are already taking part in a gathering to press ahead with constitutional revision. Surveys show the electorate supports amendment, clearly in reaction to the fact there has not been a single successful president so far.

Considering that the decision on the Constitution is "homework that must be done some day,’’ politicians need to reach a conclusion on the matter this time with the firm conviction they are laying the cornerstone for our democratic future.

President Park Geun-hye, who sympathized with the idea of changing the current presidential system during her campaign, needs to lend her support to upgrading the consultative body to a special parliamentary committee. What’s clear is that allowing the issue to drag on for months will abort the constitutional revision this time, also.