[Cheonan=Newsis] Rep. Jo Seung-rae of the Democratic Party, a member of the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee, spoke about constitutional amendments, stating, “While the fundamental position that amendments are needed is clear, the issue lies in determining when and through which procedures they should be pursued.”
During an interview on SBS Radio’s “Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show,” Rep. Jo, the chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, was asked about the stance of Lee Jae-myung, the party’s leader, on constitutional amendments. He replied, “Three years ago, both Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party promised in the presidential election to propose a four-year presidency with a re-election possibility and the transfer of the Board of Audit and Inspection to the National Assembly.”
Regarding a claim by Jeong Dae-cheol, the chairman of the National Assembly’s Constitutional Revision Committee, that Lee agreed to a constitutional amendment before the presidential election, Jo commented that Jeong’s personal opinion seemed to have significantly influenced the interview. “While Lee acknowledges the need for an amendment, determining when it should happen is the most critical issue,” Jo said.
On National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik’s proposal for a simultaneous vote on the presidential election and constitutional amendments, Jo stated, “It is unlikely to be feasible in reality.” He emphasized that instead of focusing on whether it should be a four-year term with re-election, it is vital to investigate the reasons behind recent internal conflicts, punish responsible parties, and focus on healing and recovery.
He added, “When Moon Jae-in was elected president, the Democratic Party formed an internal Constitutional Amendment Special Committee to deliberate on detailed amendment proposals. However, the current People Power Party opposed the proposals at the time. If the Democratic Party regains control, we plan to submit those proposals as constitutional amendments.”
When asked about the timing of Lee Jae-myung’s resignation, Jo responded, “With the Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow (the 8th) to announce the election day, Lee’s future will likely become clearer as constitutional procedures progress.”
Regarding former President Yoon Seok-youl, Jo stated, “He has not sincerely apologized to the public and is undergoing trial for treason, which only adds to the perception. Recently, he also summoned Rep. Na Kyung-won to the official residence, suggesting that he might be signaling her as a successor.”