Lee Jae-myung Opposes Constitutional Amendment Amid Political Discord

The proposal to hold a referendum on constitutional amendments alongside the upcoming presidential election faces significant hurdles. Woo Won-shik, the Speaker of the National Assembly, suggested this simultaneous vote on April 6, which initially received support from the People Power Party (PPP) on April 7. However, Lee Jae-myung, a leading presidential contender from the Democratic Party (DP), has voiced opposition, creating an impasse.

Key Points of Contention:

• Timing and Urgency: The DP prioritizes preventing democratic backsliding, while the PPP sees the presidential election as the deadline for amendments.
• Scope of Amendments: The DP favors a phased approach, addressing issues like the May 18 Democratization Movement (5·18 민주화운동, a pivotal pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju) and martial law conditions first. The PPP prefers comprehensive reforms, including power structure changes.
• Procedural Issues: Amendments to the Public Referendum Act are needed, especially concerning overseas voting rights and the introduction of early voting.

Democratic Party’s Stance:

Lee Jae-myung stated at a Supreme Council meeting that while advancing democracy is important, preventing its destruction is more urgent. This stance reflects concerns about focusing on constitutional amendments so soon after the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

People Power Party’s Response:

The PPP criticizes Lee’s opposition, arguing that it ignores the public’s desire for constitutional reform. They emphasize that the election date should be the deadline for these amendments.

Underlying Motivations:

The DP may be wary of introducing new variables into the election, while the PPP sees constitutional amendments as a way to regain momentum after Yoon’s impeachment.

Specific Amendment Proposals:

• DP’s Proposal: Focus on immediate issues like enshrining the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement in the constitution and strengthening martial law requirements. Defer discussions on power structure changes until after the election.
• PPP’s Proposal: Reduce presidential powers, balance parliamentary authority, and move beyond the 1987 political system.

Challenges:

• Public Referendum Act: Requires amendments to address overseas voting rights and the absence of early voting provisions. Failure to amend this act could jeopardize the success of a simultaneous referendum.
• Differing Views: Disagreements over the scope and method of amendments hinder the formation of a special committee in the National Assembly.

Speaker’s Call to Action:

Despite the discord, Speaker Woo Won-shik urges parties to agree on amendments and prioritize revising the Public Referendum Act.

Expert Opinion:

An official from the National Election Commission stated that amendments to the Public Referendum Act are necessary by April 15 to ensure simultaneous elections.

Potential Obstacles:

Political analysts anticipate difficulties in forming a special committee due to the parties’ conflicting views. The failure to reach a consensus could repeat the outcome of the 2018 attempt, where proposed amendments were ultimately discarded.