Speaker of the National Assembly Cho Jung-sik proposed preparing a constitutional amendment next year to finalize a 10th revision [2].
The proposal signals a potential shift in the balance of power in South Korea, as it seeks to fundamentally alter the authority of the presidency and the electoral process.
Speaking during the 78th Constitution Day ceremony [1], Cho said the goal is to complete the process within the 22nd National Assembly [3]. The proposed changes include incorporating the spirit of the May 18 Gwangju Uprising into the constitution, and restricting the president's power to declare martial law [2]. Cho also said there is a need to strengthen election management [2].
Cho said the initiative requires cooperation from opposition parties to succeed. However, the People Power Party reacted with criticism toward the suggestion.
An official from the People Power Party said the proposal is a "political card" [2]. The party said the move is driven by strategic interests rather than a genuine desire for constitutional reform.
Constitutional amendments in South Korea typically require a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and a subsequent national referendum. Given the current political polarization, the path to a 10th revision faces significant legislative hurdles. The tension between the Speaker's vision for reform and the ruling party's skepticism highlights the deep divide over the scope of executive power in the country.
“"내년 개헌안 마련"”
The push for a 10th constitutional amendment represents an attempt to institutionalize democratic safeguards by limiting the executive branch's ability to declare martial law. Because such changes require broad consensus across party lines, the People Power Party's dismissal suggests that the proposal may serve more as a catalyst for political debate than a viable legislative roadmap for the current assembly.
