President Indicates Willingness to Revise Constitution Through National Discussion

By Ryu Jin
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun Tuesday proposed constructive discussion on alternatives to what he called South Korea’s abnormal politics, in which the government’s state management is impeded due to an opposition-controlled legislature.

The proposal is expected to rekindle debate on changing the current presidential system.

But two major opposition parties, the Grand National Party (GNP) and the Democratic Party (DP) dubbed the proposal a political ploy to divert public criticism on his mismanagement of state affairs.

The progressive Democratic Labor Party (DLP) said changing the political system needs to be fully discussed, however.

Roh expressed his frustration which he largely ascribed to the ruling party’s ``numerical weakness’’ in the National Assembly.

``Since the 13th general election in 1988, the National Assembly has fallen into the hands of opposition parties whenever the nation goes through parliamentary elections,’’ he said in a written message to the people, posted on the Internet homepage of Chong Wa Dae.

``The authoritarian past has gone, but the public feeling to check the president seems to remain,’’ he added. ``But the problem is that state affairs cannot be managed properly under such political configurations. We need an alternative for constructive politics.’’

His official message to the nation came one day after his informal remarks on a coalition government. Roh made the suggestion in a meeting with high-profile figures in the ruling camp to help the Uri Party overcome difficulties in the unicameral legislature.

Since taking office in early 2003, Roh has often expressed his frustration over the ``limits’’ of the governing party in pushing for a set of reform measures, most of which need to be legislated in the Assembly under the nation’s U.S.-style presidential system.

With 146 lawmakers, the Uri Party is the single largest force in the 299-seat Assembly but falls short of a majority. The GNP holds 125 seats, followed by the DLP and the DP with 10 each.

It was not the first time Roh sought a coalition government. He floated the idea early last month following the ruling party’s loss of its majority in the unicameral legislature in the April 30 by-elections.

Speculation peaked over whether Roh was seeking a constitutional change from the current presidential system of government to a parliamentary Cabinet system as his remarks were first disclosed on Monday.

The ruling party welcomed the idea, while the opposition parties gave cold answers.

In Tuesday’s online message which came as an apparent counteraction, Roh vigorously defended his position, citing the largest opposition GNP’s recent attempt to oust his defense minister.

The predominantly-conservative party directed its offensives at Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung after a shooting rampage that occurred at a frontline Army unit on June 19.

A soldier went on a shooting spree, killing eight other soldiers.

But the ruling party managed to counter the offensive by forging a temporary alliance with the progressive DLP in last week’s voting showdown.

The Uri-DLP alliance voted down the GNP-proposed motion for the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoon.

``The president has no right to dissolve the Assembly,’’ he wrote in the message.

``State affairs can hardly be managed as the government is unilaterally driven into a corner. Who can call this a normal situation?’’

He said that although he has several possible alternatives in mind, he cannot make them public at this stage, as the nation’s political culture has not yet matured and the opposition parties pounce on anyone who publicly raises such sensitive issues.

Opposition parties, however, continued to attack Roh, labeling his proposal as ``an ugly and desperate attempt’’ to overcome his inability by artificially reorganizing the current political structure.

jinryu@koreatimes.co.kr