Speaker Kim to Propose Revision of Constitution
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o plans to propose the establishment of a bipartisan committee to discuss ways of diffusing presidential power, which political scientists say is overly concentrated under the current Constitution.
``Kim will elaborate the roadmap for constitutional revision in an upcoming speech at an event to mark the Constitution Day, Friday. He hopes to complete the debate as early as possible so that revision of the Constitution can be completed before the local elections in the middle of next year,'' said an aide.
Kim added that the drive for constitutional change will lose momentum unless it is completed by the deadline because major elections, including the presidential race, are scheduled to take place afterward.
In a related move, an advisory committee for the speaker is scheduled to submit a recommendation on details of a constitutional revision this month.
The panel is known to favor the U.S. presidential and a parliamentary system as two forms of government that can help with the diffusion of presidential power.
Political observers say there will be no major obstacles in the debate as the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) and the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) agreed on the need for constitutional change.
Political leaders shared the view that the current Constitution was ineffective at coping with the changing political environment mainly because it was made in a response to the pro-democracy movement in June 1987.
The floor leaders of the two parties agreed that too much power is concentrated in the presidency under the current system.
Earlier, GNP floor leader Ahn Sang-soo proposed power-sharing between the president and the prime minister ― the former being elected by the people with the latter chosen by lawmakers.
His DP counterpart Lee Kang-rae, meanwhile, expressed hope for active discussion on details of constitutional revision on the occasion of the upcoming Constitution Day.
The minor Liberty Forward Party also supports constitutional revision aimed at reducing presidential power.
A total of 168 ruling and opposition party lawmakers are affiliated with a National Assembly study group aimed at constitutional change.
Despite their shared belief, parties and individual lawmakers differ over details of the way to bring about power diffusion, indicating it could take time for them to reach agreement on the government structure.