Ruling Party Pushes for Constitutional Amendment Amid Opposition

Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party, has expressed intentions to pursue a constitutional amendment, but Jung Jeom-sik, the floor leader of the People Power Party, has firmly stated, "There will be no amendment under this government." While the Democratic Party has launched an internal committee to expedite the amendment process, it is expected that the proposal will struggle to pass in the National Assembly due to opposition from the ruling party.

According to political sources on September 8, the People Power Party claims that the ruling party's push for an amendment is motivated by President Lee Jae-myung's desire to extend his term and delay his trial. During a representative speech at the National Assembly, Jung emphasized, "The People Power Party makes it clear: there will be no amendment under this government," adding, "We will not discuss amendments with those who are clearly committing unconstitutional acts and seeking personal gain through amendments."

He further criticized President Lee, who has mentioned a two-term amendment, saying, "He will never say, 'I will not seek re-election' or 'I will face trial.'" Jung questioned whether the amendment is intended to extend the president's term and delay his trial, suggesting it is being used as a tool for self-protection.

On the previous day, Representative Jang Dong-hyuk also commented on the ruling party's amendment efforts, stating, "While they claim to use the 5.18 and Busan uprisings as justification, their true intention is to restructure power." He asserted that President Lee would argue that a 'constitutional amendment for re-election' is what the public desires. Jang challenged the Democratic Party to secure a declaration from the president stating that re-election is not an option if they truly wish to pursue an amendment.

In contrast, Kim Min-seok responded to Jung's opposition to the amendment, saying, "He has placed one or two conditions on the amendment, but I do not see them as significant obstacles." During a meeting with Jeong Dae-cheol, president of the Korea Constitutional Society, he reiterated the party's commitment to addressing the amendment issue with an open attitude while upholding democratic principles.

Previously, he stated in his representative speech that the party would pursue a feasible amendment reflecting 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 People Power Party to join in the amendment process, emphasizing that including the 5.18 democratization movement and the Busan uprising in the constitutional preamble is the "starting point" for the amendment.

Regarding the restructuring of power, he mentioned, "We can go as far as the public desires," indicating that the scope of the amendment would be left to public consensus amid ongoing controversy over the president's re-election issue.

The Democratic Party plans to intensify discussions on the amendment through its internal committee. Kim Tae-nyeon, the head of the amendment committee, stated on August 31, "Now is the right time for an amendment. We will first agree on the timing for a national referendum with other parties and aim to hold the referendum by the first half of next year, at the latest, one year before the next general election."

However, with the People Power Party firmly opposing the amendment, it remains to be seen whether discussions will progress. A constitutional amendment requires the approval of two-thirds of the National Assembly members (200 seats). Without the cooperation of the People Power Party, passing an amendment is impossible. Previous attempts at constitutional amendments in the first half of the 22nd National Assembly were thwarted by opposition from the People Power Party. A Democratic Party lawmaker remarked to Aju Economy, "Given the People Power Party's stance, it seems unlikely that an amendment will pass in the second half of the National Assembly. We may end up only discussing it without any resolution."