National Assembly Speaker Calls for Constitutional Reform Next Year

Cho Jung-sik, the Speaker of the National Assembly, stated on July 28 that he aims to establish a special committee for constitutional reform through cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties, with discussions set to begin next year.

During his first press conference since taking office, Cho emphasized, "We will pursue constitutional reform calmly and boldly, as I proposed to the public on the last Constitution Day."

Earlier, in a speech commemorating the 78th anniversary of Constitution Day on July 17, Cho had suggested preparing a proposal for a people’s sovereignty constitutional amendment by 2027 and concluding the 10th amendment during the current 22nd National Assembly.

The key points of the proposed amendment include: incorporating the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising into the preamble of the constitution, limiting the president's power to declare a state of emergency, restructuring the power structure, and reforming election management.

Cho announced plans to launch a constitutional advisory committee directly under his office to outline the roadmap and agenda for the reform, stating, "We will establish a digital platform that allows the public to participate directly in the discussion process."

He added, "Next year is an opportune time for constitutional reform since there are no elections scheduled. I aim to form the special committee soon to reach an agreement on the reform by the latter half of next year."

Regarding the possibility of extending the current president's term, which has been raised by opposition parties, Cho remarked, "It is premature to discuss this matter now. The issue of the current president's term extension ultimately depends on public opinion and the choices of the sovereign people, as well as how various political stakeholders reach an agreement."

He further noted, "If the issue of power structure arises in the discussions on constitutional reform, it could become a significant topic, but opinions will likely be gathered through the advisory committee or the special committee."