Calls grow for revising presidential powers
SEOUL — Political crisis in the Republic of Korea has ignited bipartisan calls for constitutional amendments to reshape the powers of the president, an issue hotly debated ahead of the June 3 snap election.
The election was called after former president Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached and removed from office over his shock martial law decree in December, and contenders from the major parties have vowed to pursue constitutional reforms.
"Chances to succeed in a constitutional amendment are higher than ever," said Chae Jin-won, a professor at Kyunghee University's Institute of Public Governance.
The constitution was last revised in 1987 to introduce direct presidential elections and a single, five-year term. Changes have long been debated but never implemented.
Front-runner Lee Jae-myung, of the liberal Democratic Party, has proposed four years in office and two consecutive terms for presidents who would take office from 2030 and onward, a run-off system for presidential elections and parliamentary nomination on the prime minister.
"The responsibility of the president should be strengthened and powers should be decentralized," he said on May 18.
Kim Moon-soo, presidential nominee from the conservative People Power Party, has also unveiled a reform proposal, including a four-year, two-term presidential system for future presidents.
In recent years, presidential candidates from across the political spectrum have supported revisions, including giving presidents two four-year terms, but there have been few concrete steps after new leaders were chosen.
At the time, Lee said ending the political turmoil was the top priority.
Lee led a poll for the snap presidential election on June 3, Flower Research survey showed on Monday.
Also on Monday, Lee vowed to restore communication channels with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK.
Lee announced his foreign security policy, saying he would push for the restoration of inter-Korean communication channels.
Agencies - Xinhua
