"Constitutional Reform Needed to Alleviate Public Anxiety"
Former Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do Kim Kyung-soo urged Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to actively push for constitutional reform on the 4th. Kim called for the constitution to fundamentally prohibit 'illegal martial law' through the amendment.
On the same day, Kim mentioned the necessity of constitutional reform through social media (SNS) and urged the Democratic Party and its leader to make a firm decision.
Kim said, "Punishment for the insurrection forces should not end with the Constitutional Court's dismissal of Yoon Seok-yeol. First of all, regime change, that is, the Democratic Party's victory in the presidential election, is the completion of impeachment," adding, "The final destination of this impeachment should be a 'constitutional amendment' that makes such insurrection and martial law fundamentally impossible in this land." He stated, "Before the insurrection, the main issues of constitutional reform were related to power structures such as the presidential system, responsible prime minister system, and parliamentary system, but after the insurrection, the more urgent task has become how to fundamentally prevent illegal martial law. We must also decide how to distribute presidential power and strengthen the system of checks and balances."
Furthermore, regarding the May 18 Gwangju Uprising, which had a direct or indirect influence on the recent lifting of emergency martial law, he said, "Along with the constitutional amendment that fundamentally blocks martial law and insurrection, including the spirit of the Gwangju Uprising that protected the democratic republic of Korea in the preamble of the constitution has become an urgent task that can no longer be postponed."
He also urged the Democratic Party, which had been passive about constitutional reform, to change its stance and take active measures. He said, "There is no reason for the Democratic Party to be passive about constitutional reform that alleviates the people's anxiety," adding, "I understand the agonies of Lee Jae-myung, who is cautious about constitutional reform, but the political circle must responsibly prepare for the post-impeachment era." Kim emphasized, "True overcoming of the insurrection is to ensure that a second Yoon Seok-yeol, a second martial law, and insurrection can never take root in this land again," and "As a result, creating a national system that overcomes factors threatening the democratic republic will be the final destination of impeachment."
He continued, "I request Leader Lee to take the lead in promoting constitutional reform to alleviate the people's anxiety," and added, "I will also support and join him."
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