"Local Autonomy Must Be Realized and Electoral System Reform Pursued Together"
Ahn Cheol-soo, a member of the People Power Party, said on the 2nd, ahead of the impeachment trial verdict of President Yoon Seok-yeol, "Whether the impeachment is upheld or dismissed, constitutional reform must be carried out." He proposed a four-year renewable presidential term and the introduction of a runoff voting system as desirable directions for constitutional reform.
Through social media (SNS), Ahn stated, "The impeachment crisis of President Yoon is a decisive signal revealing the structural problems of South Korean politics," and added, "For South Korea to progress again, it is necessary to end the 1987 system and create a new national framework through a generational change."
He then urged President Yoon, saying, "Even if you maintain your position, the current 1987 constitutional system can no longer be sustained," and "I hope the President will keep the promises he made."
Furthermore, Ahn predicted, "Since the 1987 system, five presidents have gone to prison, and the repeated impeachment crises are the result of the structure of the imperial presidency itself," adding, "Under an overly powerful presidency and insufficient checks and balances, mistakes will inevitably be repeated because the president is human, and proper checks cannot be maintained, which ultimately increases the likelihood of misfortune."
As a desirable direction for constitutional reform, he proposed a four-year renewable presidential term and the introduction of a runoff voting system. Ahn explained, "A parliamentary system or a dual executive system is not realistically suitable for South Korea," and "The most practical and desirable direction for reforming the power structure is a four-year renewable presidency with reduced powers and the introduction of a runoff voting system."
He added, "Legislative and financial powers concentrated in the central government should be appropriately transferred to local governments to achieve true national balanced development and local autonomy."
Ahn emphasized that electoral system reform should be carried out alongside constitutional reform. He said, "We should switch to a large multi-member district system or a German-style mixed-member proportional representation system," explaining, "This is to ensure that the diverse opinions of the people are reflected without wasted votes and that the map of party support in the hearts of the people aligns with the composition of the National Assembly."
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