By Jun Ji-hye
Lawmakers advocating for a revision to the Constitution are concentrating efforts toward that end, a move that will likely deal another blow to the beleaguered President Park Geun-hye.
Park is already experiencing multiple problems over the leak of internal memoranda from the presidential office which alleges that one of former close aides meddled in state affairs.
Rep. Lee Jae-oh of the ruling Saenuri Party, who has been pushing for the constitutional revision, is set to launch a pan-national organization, Tuesday. It will be comprised of former and incumbent lawmakers, religious figures and civil activists who will support the proposed constitutional amendment to establish a system of power-sharing between the president and the prime minister, as well as a two-term presidency so that incumbents could run for a second term in office.
Floor leader of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), Woo Yoon-keun and third-term lawmaker Yoo Ihn-tae will join the group pushing for the proposed reform.
Lee said about 100 civic groups will participate in the organization, which will have 17 branch offices nationwide by the end of February.
Under the power-sharing system, the president would focus on foreign affairs, national security, and unification, while the prime minister would take care of domestic matters.
The launch of the pan-national organization is apparently aimed at boosting public support in favor of the amendment, wary of criticism that the drive has limited support from a limited number of members in the National Assembly.
More than 150 lawmakers out of the total 300 have joined an Assembly group to support the proposed revision, with Lee assuming an advisory role. They argue that the nation’s current presidential system, introduced in 1987, has resulted in an imperial style of presidential terms, contributing to endless political and social conflicts.
“The nation’s Constitution needs to be revised to adapt to the new era,” Lee said.
In an effort to join hands with Lee, Reps. Lee Hae-chan and Woo Yoon-keun of the NPAD are also planning to hold open forums for a discussion on the constitutional revision on Dec. 11 and 18, respectively.
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