Kim Dong-yeon, the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, stated on the 12th that a constitutional amendment to open the 7th Republic is an unavoidable task of this era. He suggested reducing the next president’s term by two years to three years, so that the presidential and parliamentary elections could be held together in 2028.
Kim posted on his Facebook that while the 1987 regime marked a democratic and economic leap for South Korea, the current political system would not allow advancement into the future. He emphasized the need for constitutional reform, referencing the failed amendment attempt made by President Roh Moo-hyun in 2005, and stressed completing the “revolution of light” by overcoming the ’87 system.
He pointed out the necessity of reaching a “prior agreement” on constitutional amendment before any impeachment decisions, stating that delaying this until after the presidential election could make it impossible. Major political forces need to agree on the amendment before the election and pursue it actively afterward.
Kim highlighted the importance of aligning the terms of the president and National Assembly members under a “semi-presidential system with a four-year term.” He proposed shortening the next president’s term to align the election cycle, allowing for more stable and responsible governance.
Regarding economic and political reforms, Kim advocated for transforming economic inequality into an “economy of opportunity” through an “economic constitutional amendment.” This includes considering the introduction of public ownership of land to create a sustainable South Korea. Additionally, he stressed the need for a constitutional revision to enable the relocation of the capital to Sejong City to ensure balanced national development.
Kim also called for a restructuring of the power system and a political transition through an amendment to adapt South Korea’s “imperial presidential system” into a “semi-presidential system with a four-year term.” He also suggested expanding the adoption of a runoff voting system to ensure presidential candidates have majority support, thus creating a stable government.
He asserted that enduring political change must involve dismantling the duopoly of major political parties and enhancing electoral proportionality. Kim also emphasized the need for independent statuses for agencies like the prosecutor’s office and the Board of Audit and Inspection to conclude institutional reforms.
Kim concluded that cooperation between the political forces involved in impeachment and the citizens supporting the movement would be essential to achieve the “revolution of light.” He called for a coalition government to fulfill these historical responsibilities.