[Anchor]

Taking the podium for a negotiation group speech at the National Assembly today, Democratic Party Representative Kim Min-seok stated that he will pursue a viable constitutional amendment based on national consensus. Representative Kim also criticized height restrictions near the National Assembly and the Supreme Court as a "product of the authoritarian era."

Reporter Kim Kwan-jin has the details.

[Reporter]

Delivering his first negotiation group speech at the National Assembly since taking office, Democratic Party Representative Kim Min-seok stated that he will "pursue a 'feasible constitutional amendment' that reflects the changes of the times and the demands of the public."

Regarding the scope of the amendment, he said the following:

[Kim Min-seok / Representative, Democratic Party: Including the May 18 Democratization Movement and the Bu-Ma Democratic Struggle in the preamble of the Constitution is the starting point of the amendment, and the reorganization of the power structure should go as far as the public desires.]

Last July, National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-shik sparked a major controversy by remarking that "a constitutional amendment allowing consecutive terms for the incumbent president is a matter of public choice." Kim's remarks are interpreted as a cautious stance, seemingly mindful of this controversy, indicating that the scope of the amendment will be determined by monitoring public opinion.

Regarding political reform, he proposed full-fledged discussions on easing the requirements for parliamentary negotiation groups, while also adding this idea:

[Kim Min-seok / Representative, Democratic Party: Instead of grandiose political reforms, let's start simply by mixing up our seating arrangements in the plenary session. How about sitting in alphabetical order by name rather than by political party?]

On real estate issues, Representative Kim stated that the goal of housing policy goes beyond price stability to resolving housing issues, and proposed the implementation of a 'Housing New Deal' that would drastically increase housing budgets.

Regarding the expansion of housing supply, he suggested high-density, mixed-use development in station areas and semi-industrial zones, as well as discussing ways to utilize sites proposed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, such as water reclamation centers.

[Kim Min-seok / Representative, Democratic Party: Height restrictions near the National Assembly and the Supreme Court are also a product of the authoritarian era.]

In response to Representative Kim's speech, the People Power Party criticized it, saying, "If you want to amend the constitution, just bring back a declaration of 'no consecutive terms' from President Lee Jae-myung," and "It is an attempt to 'change the signboard' without even apologizing for the failure of real estate policies."

(Photo: Yonhap News / Video by Oh Young-chun, Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Oh Young-taek | Design by Lee Jong-jung)