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| President Moon Jae-in speaks at a luncheon with officials from the Presidential Commission on Policy Planning, held in Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. |
By Choi Ha-young
President Moon Jae-in reiterated his determination to amend the Constitution, Thursday, at a luncheon with members of the Presidential Commission on Policy Planning (PCPP), the presidential think-tank in charge of creating the constitutional revision bill.
"The constitutional revision should respect the people's will. Please make sure to create the revision bill to reflect the thoughts of citizens," Moon said. "Though there is not enough time to prepare it, please broadly collect people's will. The new Constitution should gain approval from most citizens."
The Moon administration has sought to hold a national referendum on the revision in June, in tandem with local elections. Originally, the National Assembly was solely tasked with creating the revision bill, but Moon has pressed the Assembly by saying Cheong Wa Dae could make its own revision bill if lawmakers fail to reach a consensus.
In a bid to accelerate the constitutional talks, the PCPP installed a special committee. Moon's chief of staff Im Jong-seok said the revision bill is supposed to be submitted by the end of March, but the specific timing could change if the Assembly is likely to find common ground.
However, the outlook is bleak. The largest opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) is against the idea of holding the referendum in June, calling it a "government-manufactured revision."
LKP floor leader Kim Sung-tae claimed the referendum should take place in October, in a tripartite meeting between floor leaders from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), the LKP and the centrist Bareun Mirae Party, Wednesday.
If Moon unveils his own revision bill, Cheong Wa Dae may not touch on the power structure ― the most disputed point in the bipartisan talks ― considering the lack of public consensus.
The ruling DPK backs a U.S.-style four-year two-term presidency, while the LKP believes this is a tactic to extend the administration's term.
The revised Constitution would go into effect only after Moon's successor takes power.
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