Kim Kyungsoo: "Lee's Remarks Open Possibility for Constitutional Amendment"
Priority Should Be on Amending Constitution to Prevent Martial Law and Include the Spirit of May 18
Kim Bookyum: "Neglecting Constitutional Amendment Under the Pretext of Ending Internal Conflict Is Complacent"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized that ending the internal conflict takes precedence over constitutional amendment, while non-mainstream factions such as former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo and former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum stated, "Completing the constitutional amendment is equivalent to ending the internal conflict."
On the 7th, former Governor Kim posted on his Facebook titled "Let's trust the people and confidently and boldly advance the wheel of democracy," stating, "Ending the internal conflict and promoting constitutional amendment are not conflicting issues."
He said, "I understand well that many people are worried about the Speaker of the National Assembly's proposal for constitutional amendment discussions," adding, "Today, Leader Lee also mentioned that a constitutional amendment to prevent martial law and to include the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Movement in the preamble of the constitution could be possible, provided that the National Referendum Act is amended, which is a meaningful statement opening the possibility of promoting constitutional amendment."
Earlier that day, at the Supreme Council meeting, Leader Lee said, "I think we can immediately handle matters such as the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Movement and strengthening the requirements for martial law," but added, "Other contentious issues like the four-year re-election system and multiple terms could cause national division, so we should promise the people and implement them after the presidential election as pledged." However, he emphasized at the end, "While constitutional amendment is important, restoring the destroyed democracy is far more important."
Former Governor Kim said, "Let's first agree on the constitutional amendment to prevent martial law, include the spirit of May 18 in the constitutional preamble, and relocate the administrative capital," adding, "This is a task that all forces who united for the impeachment of Yoon Seok-youl can easily agree on." He also urged, "I ask the Speaker of the National Assembly and leaders of each party to express their positions and reach an agreement on the 'anti-constitutional martial law prevention amendment' even within this week."
He further proposed, "Other constitutional amendment matters should be thoroughly discussed after the regime change and promoted in two stages during next year's local elections." He said, "There are constitutional amendment issues that require sufficient discussion, such as strong local decentralization, expansion of direct democracy for the people and strengthening of fundamental rights, reestablishing the relationship between the executive and legislative branches based on checks and balances, and restructuring the power system to ensure stability in national governance," adding, "Let's start discussions on these in this presidential election and proceed through a deliberative process involving the entire nation before next year's local elections."
To dispel concerns that ending the internal conflict might be sidelined by constitutional amendment, he also emphasized the need to firmly punish the internal conflict forces. He said, "We must firmly punish the internal conflict forces who use constitutional amendment discussions as a tool for political strife and focus the discussion direction on constitutional amendment that protects democracy."
Former Prime Minister Kim also pointed out, "Constitutional amendment and ending the internal conflict are two sides of the same coin, not a matter of choosing one over the other," and criticized, "It is complacent to neglect constitutional amendment under the pretext of managing the internal conflict."
Former Prime Minister Kim said, "We must prepare alternatives to restart the Republic of Korea," and added, "We have the responsibility to clearly present a constitutional amendment roadmap."
He mentioned Speaker Woo Won-shik's proposal, saying, "Reforming the power structure by dividing presidential powers, local decentralization, and strengthening fundamental rights should be refined as pledges and then put to a national referendum during next year's local elections after the new government takes office, which can find a way forward," adding, "This will also secure time to amend the National Referendum Act."
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