Kwon Seong-dong Visits Lee Jae-myung... Kwon Requests "Impeachment Withdrawal," Lee Says "Emergency Budget Needed for Livelihood"

Kwon Seong-dong "Presidential System Needs Reconsideration" Suggests Constitutional Amendment
Lee Jae-myung "Must Participate in Party-Government Consultative Body... Practical Discussions Needed"

On the 18th, Kwon Seong-dong, Acting Party Leader and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, met with Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for the first time since his inauguration. During the meeting, he mentioned reviewing the presidential system, indicating a willingness to amend the constitution, while also requesting the withdrawal of impeachment motions against officials of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration led by the opposition party. Lee, in turn, asked for cooperation, emphasizing the need for an additional supplementary budget (supplementary budget) to stabilize people’s livelihoods, moving away from the sound fiscal policy of the Yoon administration.

During the visit to the Democratic Party leader’s office at the National Assembly in the afternoon, Acting Leader Kwon said, “The country is in difficulty. The declaration of martial law caused great confusion and shock among the people.”

First, Kwon pointed out that public trust in the legislative branch is low compared to the executive and judiciary and stressed the need to stop political strife. He said, “The executive branch should focus on its duties, and the judiciary is expected to make swift and fair decisions without wavering. If only the legislative branch restrains excessive political conflict and calmly puts their heads together for the people’s livelihood and security, the chaotic political situation can be well managed.”

He also expressed appreciation for Lee’s recent remarks on the necessity of appointing a Minister of National Defense responsible for security and defense, calling it a welcome and good decision.

Suggesting the need to review the current presidential system under the constitution, Kwon hinted at constitutional amendment. He stated, “This current crisis marks the third impeachment situation in our constitutional history. I believe it is necessary at this point to review whether the governance structure adopted by our constitution, the so-called presidential system, truly fits our reality.”

Kwon added, “We are now on the seventh president since the 1987 constitutional system. It is true that hardly any president has been evaluated as having done well. It is time to change the presidential system, which is an all-or-nothing game, into a cooperative system that reflects more opinions. I hope Leader Lee will show a more progressive attitude.”

Furthermore, he criticized the opposition party’s excessive filing of impeachment motions against officials of the Yoon administration. Kwon said, “I see that 14 impeachment motions, including those against Audit Board Chairman Choi Jae-hae and Minister of Justice Park Seong-jae, are pending at the Constitutional Court. I doubt whether the court can handle all of them, including the presidential impeachment motion. To manage state affairs, I ask that the National Assembly withdraw these excessive and politically motivated impeachment motions to reduce the burden on the Constitutional Court.”

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is taking a commemorative photo with Kwon Seong-dong, acting leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, at the National Assembly on the 18th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Lee mentioned his close relationship with Acting Leader Kwon, recalling their time preparing for the bar exam together and a phone call the previous day. He said, “When people live together, they inevitably have different thoughts and interests, so competition is unavoidable. But if it becomes a war to eliminate the other side and survive alone, the community cannot be maintained. Politics’ fundamental role is to recognize existence, make appropriate concessions, compromise, and reach a certain agreement, but unfortunately, politics has become a war.”

He indirectly criticized President Yoon, who triggered the martial law situation, saying, “If politicians spend all day fighting to eliminate someone and worrying about how to secure their own interests, they themselves become unhappy.”

Lee also urged the government to play its role, including preparing a supplementary budget for economic recovery. He said, “The economy is so difficult that the government’s responsibility in the economic sector has been too weak, being stuck in formal sound fiscal policy so far. I think it would be good to prepare a supplementary budget for people’s livelihood. I ask for a progressive review from the People Power Party.”

He also called for participation in the government stability consultative body, which the People Power Party opposes. Lee said, “I think Acting Leader Kwon seems pessimistic about the government stability consultative body I proposed, so I can make concessions where necessary. However, as the floor negotiation bodies of the Democratic Party and People Power Party, we need to have practical consultations. I hope you will devise a plan.”

Regarding Kwon’s comment that the legislative branch has the lowest trust, Lee responded, “I thought it was the institution with the lowest trust, but recently, expectations have risen, saying ‘The National Assembly is doing its job.’” This was interpreted as pressure on Kwon, referring to the passage of the martial law lifting request on the 4th and the impeachment motion on the 14th.

In a closed meeting, Acting Leader Kwon requested cooperation on passing livelihood bills such as the special law on the power grid, and Lee responded that he is reviewing them, according to Chief Spokesperson Cho Seung-rae. According to Cho, regarding Lee’s request to participate in the government consultative body, Kwon said he would discuss it once more at the party meeting at 3 p.m. that day.