NA Speaker calls for Constitutional referendum during next presidential election

And over the weekend, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik suggested a referendum on the election day to revise the Constitution.

It will be aimed at reorganizing power structure he says.

Kim Do-yeon reports.

Calls for constitutional reform surface almost every election season in South Korea.

But this time, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik says it must happen and soon.

He is pushing for a nationwide referendum to take place within the next 60 days, alongside the upcoming presidential election triggered by President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

Speaking on Sunday, Woo emphasized that although the declaration of martial law was ultimately blocked, it revealed serious vulnerabilities in the country's democracy.

"To break this vicious cycle, we must pave the way before the new president's term begins. Now is the perfect time to achieve constitutional reform, as the public's call for decentralization of power, popular sovereignty, and national unity has never been clearer. I propose holding a national referendum on constitutional amendment on the same day as the upcoming presidential election."

To move the process forward, Speaker Woo also proposed launching a special committee dedicated to constitutional amendments.

He said the first round of reform, aimed at aligning with the presidential election timeline, would focus on the division of power.

A second round of proposed changes could follow during next year's nationwide local elections.

When asked whether he was referring to a four-year presidential term with the possibility of re-election -similar to the U.S. model -Woo said it's an idea both major parties appear open to.

However, he emphasized that the specifics would be discussed within the newly proposed committee.

On the other hand, the leadership and senior members of the Democratic Party of Korea also the party the Speaker is from said it's not the time for this reform yet.

While the Chair of the DP, Lee Jae-myung, did not directly respond, those close to him said that now is the time to put effort into holding those who started the insurrection responsible.

The People Power Party interim chair, however, said the Party is unchanged in its stance on Constitutional Reform and welcomed the idea.

Kwon Young-se said that the floor leader will come up with those joining the special committee proposed by the Speaker, and all details will be discussed there.

Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.