Park Jiwon: "Lee Jaemyung's Constitutional Amendment Is the Starting Point for Opening the Seventh Republic"

"D-15, Constitutional Amendment Still Possible Even After the Election"
"Proposed Amendment During Lee Myung-bak and Yoon Administrations, but Was Rejected"

Park Jiwon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, publicly expressed his support for the constitutional amendment pledge announced by Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, on the 18th, describing it as "shedding the old shell and moving toward the future of the Seventh Republic."

On Facebook that day, Park wrote, "Candidate Lee Jae-myung announced his constitutional amendment pledge today, and candidate Kim Moon-soo also responded. Now it is D-15. There is no time. Regardless of who is elected, if the discussion begins immediately after the election, constitutional amendment is possible." He added, "Tonight, I imagine President Lee Jae-myung throwing off the old shell and opening wide the gates to a new Seventh Republic, the true future of Korea."

Park Jiwon, member of the Democratic Party of Korea

Park revealed that he has long advocated for constitutional amendment. He recounted that, during the Lee Myung-bak (MB) administration, he proposed "shortening the presidential term by one year, a French-style dual executive system, and a four-year two-term presidency" to former Grand National Party leader Ahn Sang-soo and to Jeong Jin-seok, chief of staff under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, but was rejected.

He said, "A respected retired politician once told me, 'Don’t try to become Speaker of the National Assembly by getting on Lee Jae-myung’s good side; instead, amend the constitution and become a responsible prime minister.' However, I explained that I opposed constitutional amendment at the time because 'Korea before and after the 12·3 Martial Law is different. Now is a time for ending internal strife and for a change of government.'"

Park also stated that he had conveyed his position on constitutional amendment to candidate Lee. He said, "I once told candidate Lee Jae-myung, 'I will fight on the issue of constitutional amendment for now. If you become the presidential candidate, consider making a constitutional amendment pledge at that time.'"

He further commented, "Candidate Lee’s constitutional amendment proposal is similar to the one suggested about a month ago by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik," and added, "I am grateful for Speaker Woo’s patience and cooperation."

Park has been a leading advocate for constitutional amendment, having raised the necessity of amendment on various political occasions. With his public expression of support for candidate Lee’s pledge, it is expected that he will influence future discussions on constitutional reform.