Outdated Basic Law Hampers Globalization
By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter
National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o said destructive confrontations and wrangling between rival parties will continue to dominate the country's political scene if there is no amendment to the Constitution.
``Despite the fact that many of the Korean lawmakers have a magnetic personality and a brilliant academic and professional career, each one of them acts like a complete fool here at the Assembly,'' Kim said in an interview with The Korea Times at his office Monday.
``The parliamentary system has repeatedly failed to carry out its task of checking the government and drawing up legislation through dialogue and negotiations as parties are always pitted against each other.''
He attributed the problem to the current basic law, which he claims creates an imperial presidency. Kim said, without change, lawmakers of the ruling and opposition parties are prone to clash over every issue.
Kim also claimed that Korea should address the problems resulting from the concentration of the president`s power and the weakening of political responsibility resulting from a single five-year presidency.
``Too much power is concentrated in the hands of the president, which makes political parties entirely focus on grabbing power in the presidential election,'' Kim said.
Alternatives
Kim said Korea should actively seek an alternative system to replace the current presidential system, which often results in a winner-take-all situation.
A parliamentary advisory committee proposed shifting to a bicameral legislature or adopting a U.S.-style presidency, allowing a maximum two four-year-term presidency.
The committee, comprised of law professors from various universities and created by the Assembly speaker in September 2008, pointed out that more power should be given to the prime minister.
The time is ripe for revamping the political system as there has been a growing consensus on the need to reform the political system among politicians and the public who have developed a mature sense of social and civic responsibility, Kim said.
Embracing New Social Demand
He noted that the current Constitution, last revised in 1987, cannot meet the new demands of the times.
``I believe the Basic Law should be revised so that it can keep up with the three irreversible, age-defining trends of globalization, informatization and decentralization,'' Kim said.
He said Korea needs a Constitution which calls for a spread of power, ensuring the proper functioning of the checks and balance system and keeping up with the fast changing world.
``One of the biggest problems with the current Constitution is that it does not reflect the changes Korea has undergone since 1987 through rapid industrialization and pro-democracy movements,'' Kim said.
Violence in National Assembly
``I'd like to offer my heartfelt apology for the persistent violence, as speaker and a legislator who has been engaged in politics for more than 20 years,'' Kim said.
He also expressed deep regret over not being able to prevent Korea's politics from turning into a subject for gossip and mockery.
``I feel completely devastated whenever I think of the scuffles and physical violence that have occurred at the Assembly, especially the incident involving hammers, which made the headlines in the international press.''
Kim pointed out the recurring problem arises from the systemic flaws in Korean politics, along with immaturity of its political culture.
However, he argued that Korea should address the systemic problems first.
``Korea should not ignore the two major causes that undermine the soundness of its politics,'' Kim said. ``But it should be noted that changing culture takes much time, whereas the systemic changes can be made right away if politicians make bipartisan efforts.''
Budget Deliberation Deadlock
Kim said the 60-day budget deliberation period stipulated in the Constitution should be substantially extended.
The Assembly failed to meet the Dec. 2 constitutional deadline for the passage of the budget bill for the seventh consecutive year in 2009.
``Even the very first Constitutional National Assembly of Korea had 120 days for fiscal budget deliberations,'' Kim said. ``The parliamentary deliberation period for the budget was contracted to 60 days when the Constitution was last amended in 1987, when annual state spending was only 28 trillion won ($2.4 billion)."
The parliamentary leader said it has become virtually impossible for lawmakers to thoroughly deliberate the state-budget which has jumped more than 10 times, nearing 300 trillion won.
``The Constitution stipulates that government ministries must submit their spending plans for next year to the National Assembly in October. Simply put, it is too short a time for politicians to reach a consensus through dialogue before the deadline,'' Kim said.
Last month, the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) occupied the chamber of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts amid fears that the governing Grand National Party would railroad the budget after the two parties failed to meet the deadline.
As a result, the DP occupied the chamber for two weeks, breaking the previous record of four days set in 1985 during the authoritarian Chun Doo-hwan administration.
Branding National Assembly
The journalist-turned-politician said that Korea's national image will improve when journalists here report the truth as it is, including the ugly sides of the National Assembly.
``I'm sure journalists working for the local English media are often faced with a dilemma over whether to report the dark sides of Korean society, such as physical clashes at the legislature, or only to shed light on the bright sides,'' Kim said.
``I believe that artificial and distorted articles about Korea cannot do any good for the country, whereas accurate and unbiased reports will eventually improve the nation's image, even if it reveals the gloomy sides of it.''
Kim said Korea will be able to further solidify trust from the international community and its society will become healthier, if reporters in Korea work with strict journalistic ethics and do not bend the truth.