Speaker Woo urges careful timing on constitutional reform, calls for swift supplementary budget

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has said that while President Lee remains committed to constitutional reform, changes could take time.

Marking his first year in office on Wednesday, Woo stressed that reform must be carefully timed as the new government is starting without a transition team, and talks will need to be held.

He floated the idea of a constitutional referendum alongside the presidential election back in April in order to address calls for decentralization of power following the martial law declaration, but withdrew the idea after a backlash.

Woo also called for the swift passage of a supplementary budget to address urgent economic and diplomatic challenges.