'Proposal to Amend Constitution if 1 Million People Gathered'... Vote During General Election if Passed

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] The "One-Point Constitutional Amendment" containing the people's constitutional amendment proposal right was proposed on the 6th. The amendment includes provisions allowing constitutional amendments to be proposed by the initiative of one million voters. If the amendment passes the plenary session, it will be put to a national referendum in the April 15 general election.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, the People's Initiative Constitutional Amendment Coalition, composed of ruling and opposition lawmakers including Kang Chang-il of the Democratic Party and Kim Moo-sung of the United Future Party, as well as 26 civic groups, proposed the amendment with the consent of the majority of the total members of the National Assembly.

The current Article 128, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution, which states that "constitutional amendments are proposed by the initiative of the majority of the total members of the National Assembly or the President," is revised to "the current Constitution is proposed by the initiative of the majority of the total members of the National Assembly, or one million voters with the right to vote in National Assembly elections, or the President."

The amendment has just passed one hurdle. For the amendment to be enacted, a plenary session must be held to obtain the consent of two-thirds or more of the total members of the National Assembly. The difficulty of gathering lawmakers active in their constituencies ahead of the general election could be a variable. If two-thirds or more of the total members consent, the amendment must then receive the majority of votes from eligible voters and the majority approval of those voting in the national referendum during the April 15 general election.

Once the amendment is proposed in the National Assembly, the President must announce the constitutional amendment proposal for at least 20 days. The amendment coalition aims to hold a plenary session on the 27th to approve the amendment.