Op-ed: President's call for constitutional reform in Korea deserves support

President Lee Jae Myung on July 17 called for constitutional revision for the first time since taking office. In a message posted on Facebook to mark the 77th Constitution Day, he wrote, “Just as we change our clothes with the seasons, it is time to revise and update our Constitution to reflect the new realities of our time.” He expressed hope that the National Assembly, as the representative of the people, would take the lead in launching a “people-centered constitutional reform.” [ . . . ] Constitutional revision is overdue. The current Constitution, drafted in 1987, was designed to reflect the democratic spirit of the time, especially the direct presidential election system. While that framework was necessary at the time, it has since revealed structural limitations that have hindered Korea’s political development.   The most glaring issue is the concentration of power in the presidency. Presidents control nearly all aspects of governance, including appointments, the budget and diplomacy. As a result, checks and balances are often weak. Ruling parties frequently function as little more than rubber stamps for the presidential office. With a winner-takes-all system, those who did not support the president in the election often find themselves excluded from policymaking for five years. This has deepened political polarization and normalized extreme partisanship.
Read the full article here: Korea JoongAng Daily