By Jun Ji-hye
Should Korea amend its Constitution to revise its single-term, five-year presidential system? The question is surfacing again ahead of the Dec. 19 presidential election.
Analysts say that Saenuri Party candidate Park Geun-hye, may try to use the issue to divert attention away from her liberal opponents, the Democratic United Party’s (DUP) Moon Jae-in and independent Ahn Cheol-soo, who are dominating headlines amidst widespread rumors of a possible alliance between them.
Park is said to support a two-term, four-year system but has yet to decide whether she will include this proposal in her forthcoming election pledges.
Her camp expressed active support for the move on Friday.
“I think we should give positive consideration to a two-term presidency with both a president and vice president,” Han Kwang-ok, chief vice chairman of the National Integration Committee, said during a radio appearance.
“A sitting president should get another chance to lead if he or she does a good job,” he said, adding that the issue should be included in Park’s programs.
Ahn Dae-hee, who chairs Park’s political reform committee said, “The opposition has already mentioned constitutional amendment. Park is not against the issue, either. I think we can engender public discussion about the issue.”
Moon holds similar views on amending the Constitution, suggesting a two-term, four-year presidency to be headed by a president and a vice president.
He appears determined to include the issue in his election pledges and push it through if he moves into Cheong Wa Dae.
Ahn is more cautious, saying national consensus is first required. But election observers say he will not be able to maintain a passive stance if Park and Moon continue to make the subject a campaign issue.
It has been widely debated since the current system was introduced in 1987. It has often come in for criticism for hindering the ability of presidents to set up and implement long-term plans.
Former presidents including Kim Young-sam and the late Kim Dae-jung both tried unsuccessfully to secure a constitutional amendment to scrap the current system.
In 2007, the late Roh Moo-hyun also failed in his push for a four-year presidency with the possibility of reelection.
Amending the Constitution here requires the approval of at least two-thirds of lawmakers and the support of more than half the eligible voters.