Ruling party sets constitutional amendment deadline... People Power Party, holding the key, remains "cool"

[Financial News] The Democratic Party of Korea has proposed a timetable to reach a bipartisan agreement on constitutional amendment by March or April next year and put it to a referendum no later than the first half of next year. Because constitutional amendments require the approval of at least two-thirds of all lawmakers, the participation of the People Power Party is essential. The Democratic Party of Korea believes an obstacle has been removed after President Lee Jae Myung said he has no intention of seeking another term, but the People Power Party has yet to respond to the Democratic Party's timetable.
The Democratic Party of Korea officially launched its constitutional amendment task force at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea on the 20th, stepping up discussions on constitutional reform. It will take a two-track approach: gathering views from within the party and from experts to draw up its own proposal by the end of the year, while consulting with all parties, including the People Power Party. Jung Tae-ho, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker serving as the task force's secretary, said, "We will work through the end of the year to build consensus and draft a proposal," adding, "We plan to manage the schedule so that an agreement can be reached by March or April next year."
The issues under consideration include a broad range of topics, from inserting 5.18 and the Busan–Masan Uprising into the Preamble to the Constitution to reforming the power structure and political system and strengthening basic social rights. However, the party plans to seek common ground within the areas on which the ruling and opposition parties can actually agree. Kim Tae-nyeon, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker heading the task force, said, "Given that this is a constitutional amendment being attempted for the first time in 40 years, it is right to discuss and include the various issues being raised now," but added, "For constitutional amendment to succeed under the current circumstances, we must do as much as possible to reach agreement."
The biggest variable at present is whether the People Power Party will participate. Under the Constitution, a constitutional amendment requires the approval of at least two-thirds of all lawmakers in the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. In May, an amendment proposal that included the spirit of 5.18 and the Busan–Masan Uprising in the Preamble to the Constitution was also brought before the plenary session. However, it failed after the People Power Party boycotted the vote, leaving the required quorum unmet.
This time, the Democratic Party of Korea believes that an obstacle raised by the People Power Party has been removed because President Lee Jae Myung said at a press conference on the 18th that he had no intention of seeking another term through a constitutional amendment. Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also said that day, "The president has repeatedly expressed his commitment to constitutional amendment and has clearly resolved the obstacles raised by the opposition," urging, "Let us move beyond splitting hairs over wording and turn to serious discussions on constitutional amendment." Kim Tae-nyeon also reported that, after contacting People Power Party lawmakers, he found that they "agree on the need for constitutional amendment." He added, "I will refrain as much as possible from making uncomfortable remarks about the People Power Party, with which we need to hold discussions," emphasizing dialogue. The Democratic Party of Korea is also calling for the formation of a special committee on constitutional amendment within the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
The People Power Party leadership, however, has yet to respond to the timetable proposed by the Democratic Party of Korea. Even after President Lee Jae Myung's remarks on serving another term on the 18th, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk made clear that he viewed the fact that Lee Jae Myung is president itself as an obstacle to constitutional amendment. As a result, the ruling and opposition parties still have a considerable gap to bridge before the referendum targeted for the first half of next year.
Meanwhile, Kim Min-seok had initially considered holding a tea-time press gathering that would have served as his first press conference since taking office. However, he postponed it after taking into account the fact that only two days had passed since President Lee Jae Myung's press conference, among other considerations. According to a party official, Kim is expected to hold his first press conference after the Chuseok holiday.

[email protected] Song Ji-won Reporter