Kim Min-seok Advocates for Constitutional Reform and Political Cooperation

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party, expressed his commitment to constitutional reform on September 7, stating, "The restructuring of power should go as far as the public desires." His remarks come amid controversy surrounding President Lee Jae-myung's potential re-election, suggesting that the scope of reform should reflect public consensus.

During his address at the National Assembly, Kim stated, "We will pursue a feasible constitutional amendment that reflects the changes of the times and the demands of the people while adhering to the procedural spirit of the current constitution and laws." He called for the inclusion of the May 18 Democratic Uprising and the Busan-Masan Protests in the constitutional preamble, urging the People Power Party to join in the reform efforts.

Kim also announced plans for political reform to promote cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties. Specifically, he proposed easing the requirements for forming negotiation groups and suggested mixed seating arrangements in the National Assembly. He remarked, "What if we sit in alphabetical order instead of by party? Each party can hold its meetings outside, and we can engage in constructive discussions in the assembly. Mixing seats could foster dialogue and mutual understanding among members of different parties."

He emphasized the need to create collaborative spaces for both parties, advocating for the revitalization of the bipartisan Economic Council and cooperation on youth and housing policies.

Among the key challenges he identified were police reform, the advancement of three major mega projects, and the development of cooperative relations between politics and business. He stated, "Following the reform of the prosecution, we will push for police reform, ensuring that there is no negligence in investigating serious crimes and offenses against vulnerable populations."

Regarding the three major mega projects, which are central to the Lee Jae-myung administration's agenda, he described them as a "project to revitalize the nation by expanding semiconductor production beyond the metropolitan area." He proposed a 'democratic octagonal consultation' involving the government, the National Assembly, and civil society. He also highlighted the need to utilize surplus tax revenue from the semiconductor boom to establish a future response fund, stressing the importance of community awareness for coexistence.

Additionally, he pledged to pursue market system innovations, including strengthening public disclosure and introducing a discovery system, as well as addressing housing issues and enhancing cybersecurity capabilities.

During Kim's speech, Democratic Party lawmakers responded with applause, while members of the People Power Party remained largely unresponsive.