[Anchor]
National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-shik has sparked a political controversy by stating that a consecutive term for an incumbent president is a matter of public choice. The People Power Party immediately lashed out, claiming it reveals hidden motives to extend the term of the administration and threatens constitutional order.
Reporter Park Jae-yeon has the story.
[Reporter]
National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-shik, who previously served as a political special advisor to President Lee Jae-myung, made the remarks during a press conference today (July 28).
[Cho Jung-shik / National Assembly Speaker: Regarding the reorganization of the power structure, issues such as a constitutional amendment for consecutive terms of the incumbent president, I think that ultimately comes down to public opinion and the choice of the people, who are the sovereigns.]
When asked by a reporter about his stance on a constitutional amendment to extend the incumbent president's term, he said that such talk is "premature for now," but added that it is a "matter of public choice."
[Cho Jung-shik / National Assembly Speaker: If it comes up for discussion in relation to the power structure issue during constitutional revision debates, it might become an issue again. Won't opinions eventually be gathered through the constitutional advisory committee and the special committee on constitutional revision?]
Prior to these remarks, Speaker Cho stated that it is time to overhaul the current Constitution, which is nearly 40 years old, and announced plans to form an advisory committee directly under the Speaker to reach a consensus on constitutional reform by the mid-to-late part of next year.
Speaker Cho's remark about the "choice of the people" differs in tone from the Democratic Party's clear stance last May ahead of its push for a "one-point constitutional amendment," when it drew a definitive line stating that constitutional reform has nothing to do with the issue of consecutive terms for the incumbent president.
[Han Byeong-do / Democratic Party Floor Leader (April 9): People Power Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk brought up the issue of the president's consecutive term, which is unrelated to the content of the constitutional amendment bill, and turned it into a political dispute. It is a textbook example of false agitation….]
The People Power Party criticized that the true intentions of extending the administration and pushing for consecutive terms, which threaten constitutional order, have been exposed.
[Jang Dong-hyuk / People Power Party Leader: If they go against the constitutional spirit and truly push for a constitutional amendment for consecutive terms, that itself will be a genuine rebellion.]
Article 128 of the current Constitution stipulates that "an amendment to the Constitution for the extension of the term of office of the President or for changing the provisions allowing a consecutive term shall not be effective for the President in office at the time of the proposal for such amendment to the Constitution."
In addition, amending the Constitution first requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the registered members of the National Assembly—meaning 200 or more lawmakers—making constitutional reform difficult without the consent of the 109-seat People Power Party.
As the controversy spread, Speaker Cho's office clarified, "Saying that the possibility of consecutive terms for the incumbent president was left open is completely different from the intent of the remarks," adding, "He merely stated the principled position that a constitutional amendment to reorganize the power structure must proceed based on public consensus and political agreement."
(Photo: Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editing: Park Sun-soo | Design: Han Heung-su)
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