"Can’t the ruling and opposition agree like this?".. Kim Jin-pyo hints at expanding National Assembly's budget authority in the Constitution (Comprehensive)

Presentation of Constitutional Amendment Roadmap at National Assembly Speaker's New Year Meeting
"Constitutional Amendment Should Be Nationally Integrative, Not Parliamentary System"
Despite Opposition's Demand for Plenary Session, "Depends on Ruling and Opposition Consultation"

Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo is holding a New Year's press conference at Sarangjae, the National Assembly, on the 11th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Park Jun-i] Ahead of the 2024 general election, Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo, who brought the issue of reforming the ‘large multi-member constituency system’ to the forefront alongside President Yoon Seok-yeol, has raised the prospect of constitutional amendment following the electoral district reform, thus setting sail for political reform. Attention is focused on whether discussions on electoral system reform will accelerate with the launch of an advisory committee directly under the Speaker.

On the 11th, Speaker Kim Jin-pyo held a New Year press conference at the National Assembly and proposed, "Let’s complete the revision of the election law by March." To apply the recently heated electoral district reform plan from the April general election next year, the election law must be amended by April 10, one year in advance. With only three months left until the deadline, difficulties are expected as opinions are divided not only between the ruling and opposition parties but also among individual lawmakers depending on their interests regarding the change from the current single-member constituency system, which elects one member per district, to a large multi-member constituency system that elects two or more members.

However, Speaker Kim emphasized his determination to process the election law revision within the deadline, stating, "We must comprehensively overhaul the winner-takes-all electoral system and political relations laws first." He said, "The upcoming general election should be a major turning point to end factional politics and fandom politics."

Speaker Kim is expected to accelerate the election law revision by publicizing it. He also decided to begin full-scale discussions on constitutional amendment. On the 9th, the ‘Constitutional Amendment Advisory Committee’ directly under the Speaker was launched, and related discussions are expected to gain momentum. Later, plans are in place to launch the ‘Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment of the National Assembly (Constitutional Amendment Special Committee)’ through bipartisan agreement.

Speaker Kim said, "Once the Constitutional Amendment Special Committee is launched, a ‘Public Deliberation Committee’ will be formed under it to actively engage in a constitution amendment process involving public participation." He added, "I consider the role of Speaker as the last duty of my political career," emphasizing, "I will take setting our politics right as the mission of my 20-year political life."

Last Year’s Budget Conflict Should Be Reflected in Alternative Constitutional Amendment

Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo is greeting Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, and Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the Baekbong Gentleman Award ceremony held at the National Assembly on the 21st. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

After his opening remarks, during the Q&A session, he emphasized the roadmap for pushing forward the election law revision. Speaker Kim said, "For lawmakers, the election law revision must be finalized by the end of March, so the current Political Reform Special Committee will focus on creating multiple proposals centered on election law revision," and explained, "The Constitutional Amendment Advisory Committee will continue efforts to have the public accept the overall constitutional amendment discussions through a public deliberation process."

He also presented a concrete plan regarding constitutional amendment. He said, "When emphasizing the need for constitutional amendment, many people misunderstand that it means moving toward a parliamentary system, but that is absolutely not the case," explaining, "It must be a ‘constitution amendment for national integration.’ Along with establishing the Constitutional Amendment Special Committee, a Public Deliberation Committee will be formed, and a citizen participation group for constitutional amendment will be organized to introduce elements of deliberative democracy and broadly collect public opinion." He added, "There is public consensus on the proposal to maintain the four-year presidential two-term system, but to grant the National Assembly more authority over the appointment and dismissal of the Prime Minister, and to realize the National Assembly’s inherent legislative, budget review, and treaty review powers in a manner similar to advanced countries."

Speaker Kim pointed out the confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties during last year’s budget approval process and emphasized, as Speaker, "I will create a forum for discussion." He said, "Last year, the movie ‘Decision to Leave’ received great acclaim at theaters, but the ruling and opposition parties seemed unable to make a ‘decision to agree’ like that," adding, "Due to political stances and insistence on justification over how much to cut from the 5 trillion won budget, the processing of the 639 trillion won budget related to people’s livelihoods was delayed by two weeks." He continued, "It must be processed within the legal deadline," and said, "When amending the constitution this year, I think it is necessary to create a constitutional basis that allows the National Assembly to effectively exercise its budget review and approval authority."

Regarding the opposition party’s request the previous day to convene a plenary session of the National Assembly for an urgent current affairs question to the Speaker, he responded, "Until now, urgent current affairs questions in plenary sessions have been handled by bipartisan agreement, so I understand that the ruling and opposition floor leaders are currently negotiating whether to convene the National Defense Committee as a public hearing or to operate it through a joint meeting of the National Defense Committee and the Steering Committee," and added, "We intend to handle this issue according to bipartisan agreement."