By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o pledged Thursday to set up an advisory committee to study constitutional change.
In a speech to mark the 60th Constitution Day, Kim said the independent body would research ways to push constitutional change forward in a manner that best served the interests of the people, and shunning partisan interest.
``It's time to revisit the Constitution. We need a new law that is suitable for the advanced democracy that we have achieved over the past two decades,'' he said.
No change has been made in the Constitution since 1987, often described as a milestone year for democracy in the country.
The student-led anti-government protests that year drove then ruling party leader Roh Tae-woo, who was later elected president, to make the June 29 declaration ensuring the public would choose their leader through direct voting.
``We need an alternative framework that is comparable to the progress made during the period in power structure, human rights conditions, gender equality, the environment, local autonomy and reunification.''
Opposition lawmakers expressed sympathy with Kim's call for constitutional change.
Rep. Lee Yong-hee of the Liberty Forward Party said the time is ripe for debate on the Constitution.
``Democracy is set in place in the country. So it's timely to start the debate. We need a Constitution that can last for another 50 or 100 years to come,'' he said.
Rep. Lee Nak-yon of the largest opposition Democratic Party agreed, saying polls found two-thirds of the people said yes to the need for constitutional change.
Ruling Grand National Party (GNP) leaders, however, said they shared the need for revision, but political leaders should wait for the time being, as it could distract from the drive to revive the economy.
GNP Chairman Park Hee-tae said many stakeholders including political parties and civic groups would attempt to make their voice heard if the debate was rekindled.
Park said this would only do a disservice to the nation at a time the government is striving to manage the economy.
Political leaders called for modifying the current presidential system, claiming it gives too much power to the president.
Some lawmakers are promoting a parliamentary system as an alternative, while others claim that a president should be allowed to seek reelection, banned under current law, to ensure accountability.
A recent JoongAng Ilbo newspaper poll found 39.9 percent of the public prefer a burden-sharing system where a president is responsible for foreign affairs and national defense, while a prime minister ― to be named from the largest political party ― would deal with internal affairs.
Those who want a parliamentary system come next with 34 percent, followed by those who prefer the current presidential system (25%).
The survey of 1,026 citizens has a margin of error of plus and minus 3.1 percent.