Kim Min-seok: "Even with a constitutional amendment, we are not considering a parliamentary system at all... A four-year presidential term with reelection and other options can be discussed"

[Financial News] Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok said on the 21st, regarding changes to the power structure resulting from a constitutional amendment, "We are not considering a parliamentary system at all." While a four-year presidential term with reelection and other options can be discussed based on agreement between the ruling and opposition parties and the public, he clearly ruled out adopting a parliamentary system through constitutional reform.
Kim explained the direction of the Democratic Party of Korea's constitutional reform efforts during the party's YouTube broadcast "Minty07" that day. He said, "The power structure should follow what the people reach consensus on and agree to," adding, "There are many conventional forms of presidential reelection, such as a four-year term with reelection, and those should proceed according to what is agreed upon."
He went on to emphasize, "Things that some people keep inventing out of nowhere, such as a parliamentary system, are not being considered at all—at least not by our party."
He presented three broad directions for the Democratic Party of Korea's constitutional reform efforts: including the 5.18 Democratization Movement and the Busan–Masan Uprising in the Constitution's preamble, restructuring the power system, and strengthening social rights-based fundamental rights.
Kim explained, "Amending the Constitution to insert 5.18 and the Busan–Masan Uprising into its preamble would help consolidate the social and political consensus in our society."
Regarding fundamental rights, he said, "Now that we have moved beyond industrialization and democratization, the Constitution should guarantee a dignified life for everyone. It should include measures to enhance fundamental rights in our society, establish a dignified basic society, and strengthen social rights-based fundamental rights to support it."
Kim also expressed his intention to negotiate with opposition parties to advance discussions on constitutional reform. Referring to President Lee Jae Myung's recent position on reelection, he argued, "Voices have begun to emerge even within the People Power Party saying, 'Now that the reelection issue has been settled, shouldn't we discuss it?'"
He added, "I believe we can resolve this by pursuing each issue and bringing it into the public debate," and continued, "As we move forward with the process and resolve each issue one by one, it will spread."

[email protected] Kim Kyung-min Reporter