Debate on constitutional amendment

A keen public concern is raised over the insistence by some of the ruling and opposition lawmakers, that a constitutional revision is necessary for the introduction of a

governance structure calling for the two four-year consecutive terms for the president and newly installation of vice presidency. Currently, the presidential term is limited to one five years.

The call was made by Reps. Sohn Suk-Chan and Kim Deog-Yong of the opposition GNP, while Rep. Moon Hui-Sang of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party inserted his

proposition to this effect in his draft interpolation to be delivered at the Assembly plenary session, but he omitted the particular matter during his speech in the Assembly in compliance with his party leadership.

The constitutional change was raised by leaders of both the ruling and opposition parties around the time of the April 13 general elections. In particular, GNP president Lee insisted on the need for a basic law revision in favor of two consecutive presidential terms in April, and Rep. Lee In-Je, former chief campaign manager of the ruling MDP, also called for the introduction of the double presidential terms and the

installation of a vice president. Meanwhile, Lee Han-Dong, president of the United Liberal Democrats and concurrently now prime minister, asserted that if a constitutional

change for the parliamentary cabinet system, the present presidential system should be

complemented by the American-type presidential form of government.

As reasons for their new constitution, the lawmakers in general underlined the following: the elimination of regionalism, the decentralization of governing power and the realization of responsible politics, and prevention for the president from lame-duck syndrome.

As matters stand, however, there seems to be little possibility that the constitutional revision bid will materialize, as there exists a wide gap in views between the ruling and

opposition parties. Chong Wa Dae (Blue House) and the ruling party are in a position that the fuss about the issue will result in weakening President Kim`s grip on power and could trigger a negative impact on his drive for consummating his reform program during the final phase of his five-year term.

In the meantime, the surge of the constitutional debate is feared to rekindle the ULD`s

earlier drive for the introduction of a cabinet system that had been laid to rest. This is

because Chong Wa Dae prevented Rep. Moon from delivering his view on the matter at the Assembly session. MDP vice spokesman Park Byung-Shik told the press that his party lawmakers` call for the constitutional change has nothing to do with the party`s official policy line.

On the other hand, GNP leader Lee is in favor of the consecutive two-term presidency but opposed to the adoption of vice presidency. The advocates for the vice presidency have the common view that this will be conducive to curry favor of the most populated Kyongsang-do voters.

At any rate, the debate over the mater is likely to submerge for the present. Yet the

possibility is that the issue could come to the open, when Kim`s five-year presidential term is nearing an end in association with the political development at that time.