Faced with months of political turmoil, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik on Apr. 6 proposed holding a constitutional amendment referendum alongside the upcoming presidential election, calling it a chance to reshape South Korea’s political system.
In a special address delivered at the National Assembly, Woo said the country must seize the moment for change. “This constitutional reform is a response to the public’s call to turn the hardship and confusion of the past four months into an opportunity for S. Korea’s transformation,” he said.
Also, he urged political parties to amend the Referendum Act and establish a parliamentary committee dedicated to constitutional revision.
As for the direction of the reform, Woo emphasized the need to reduce the concentration of presidential power and to embed mechanisms for bipartisan cooperation and shared governance into the political system. His remarks signaled a clear push to move away from a system in which presidential powers are heavily concentrated.
In the wake of recent political turmoil—including the imposition of martial law and the impeachment of the president—voices have grown louder across the political spectrum urging swift constitutional reform in S. Korea.
Many argue that the ongoing crisis, sparked by clashes between an “imperial presidency” and the parliamentary majority, underscores the need for a more balanced system. The Korea Constitutional Association, a group of former lawmakers, also recently proposed a “one-point” amendment focusing on reducing presidential powers and strengthening the democratic function of the National Assembly.
On Apr. 6, key presidential hopefuls from both the non-mainstream wing of the ruling Democratic Party and the main opposition People Power Party expressed support for Woo’s proposal. Although Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung did not release an official statement, he had pledged during the last presidential election to introduce a four-year presidential term with the possibility of re-election.
Woo noted that he had already discussed the proposal with leadership from all major parties, including the Democratic Party. With just over 50 days left until the early election, the issue of constitutional reform is expected to become a central focus in the race.
In his address, Woo said the reform should aim to eliminate the risks that come with winner-takes-all politics, shift power back to the people, and establish a functioning system of cooperation within the political structure. He also emphasized the urgent need to revise the Constitution to reflect the major changes S. Korean society has undergone over the 38 years since the last amendment in 1987.
While he avoided offering detailed proposals—cautioning that such suggestions from the speaker could be seen as setting guidelines—he added, “There appears to be strong bipartisan consensus on introducing a four-year, two-term presidency.”
Effectively, Woo called for accelerating a constitutional overhaul centered on decentralizing executive power and allowing presidents to serve two four-year terms.
When asked whether the amended Constitution should apply to the next president to be elected in June, Woo said the matter should be left to the parliamentary committee. Under the current Constitution, any amendment that extends the presidential term or changes rules on re-election does not apply to the incumbent president. Legal experts note that this could allow the revised Constitution to apply to the incoming president.
Woo also suggested a phased approach to reform. He proposed holding the constitutional amendment vote in June to focus on changes to the power structure—such as adopting a four-year, two-term presidency—while addressing other unresolved issues during the nationwide local elections in June next year.
“Often, the early stage of a presidency is viewed as a poor time for reform, out of fear that it could derail the administration. And by the end of the term, momentum fades due to lame-duck status,” Woo said. “To break that cycle, we need to open the floodgates before the new president takes office.”
To carry out a constitutional amendment, a proposal must be introduced either by a majority of National Assembly members or by the president. It must then be publicly announced for at least 20 days. After that, the National Assembly must approve it with a two-thirds majority—200 out of 300 lawmakers. The proposal must then be put to a national referendum, where a majority of participating voters must vote in favor for the amendment to take effect.
