Moon calls for constitutional revision, inter-Korean summit

By Jun Ji-hye

Rep. Moon Hee-sang, interim leader of the opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, speaks at the National Assembly, Thursday. / Yonhap

Rep. Moon Hee-sang, interim leader of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), said Thursday that now is the optimum time to push through a constitutional amendment in order to introduce a system of power-sharing between the president and the prime minister.

“The nation needs to reform its old presidential system that has resulted in an imperial presidency,” he said during a speech at the National Assembly. “I believe the time is now ripe for a new system to be introduced.”

The power-sharing that Moon referred to is a measure under which the president would focus on matters related to foreign affairs and unification, while the prime minister would take care of domestic issues.

The five-term lawmaker said now is the “golden time” to make the constitutional revision because many people share the need for a change.

“I call for the setting up of a special committee within the Assembly to discuss the proposed constitutional revision,” he said. “Lawmakers need to join hands to achieve this amendment before the 20th general elections slated for April 2016.”

He said that public awareness has changed compared to back in 1987 when the nation adopted the current single, five year presidential term.

Supporters of the constitutional amendment have argued that too much power has become concentrated in the office of the president under the current system.

Given this, some call for a two-term presidential system to give each incumbent president a chance to be reelected, along with the power-sharing system.

Moon’s remark came after President Park Geun-hye recently indicated opposition to such a constitutional revision, saying, “Now is the golden time for the nation to rebuild its economy.”

With regard to inter-Korean relations, the opposition leader argued that President Park and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un need to meet by next year at the latest.

“Park needs to review her strategies on foreign affairs, national security and unification. This task should begin with putting inter-Korean relations back on track,” he said. “Through a South-North summit, the nation needs to lead an era of peace in Northeast Asia.”

As a measure to improve inter-Korean relations, Moon urged the government to restrict the activities civic groups composed of North Korean defectors that send balloons containing anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the reclusive state.

“The government also needs to lift the May 24 sanctions and resume tours to Mount Geumgang on the North’s east coast,” he said.

The May 24 sanctions were imposed by former President Lee Myung-bak after the North torpedoed the South Korean frigate, Cheonan, in March 2010, freezing nearly all government-level interactions and aid for Pyongyang. The isolated state has since been demanding the measures be lifted.

Seoul suspended inter-Korean tours in 2008 after a South Korean tourist was shot dead by a North Korean soldier.

Regarding economic matters, Rep. Moon called for fair market principles to be established and implemented so that the benefits of economic growth can be equally distributed among the people.

“Conglomerates need to fulfill their social responsibility. This will make sustainable development possible,” he said.

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