Kim Jin-pyo: "It's Difficult for the President to Solve All Problems Alone... We Must Achieve a National Unity-Type Constitutional Amendment" [Full Text]

"Formation of 'Constitutional Amendment Advisory Committee' under the Speaker of the National Assembly"
Ruling and opposition parties request the creation of a 'Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment'
"We must advance the path of power decentralization and cooperation"

Kim Jin-pyo, elected as the Speaker of the National Assembly for the second half of the year, is giving his acceptance speech at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin-pyo stated at the 74th Constitution Day celebration, "I intend to establish a ‘Constitutional Amendment Advisory Council’ directly under the Speaker's office," and requested the formation of a National Assembly ‘Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment’ to initiate constitutional amendment discussions with both ruling and opposition parties.

In his Constitution Day address on the 17th, Speaker Kim said, "Let us unite the energy of the people to promote a new form of constitutional amendment that opens the door to the future."

He emphasized, "New era challenges such as low birth rates, aging population, inequality, climate change, and regional decentralization are emerging one after another, and the public's expectations have risen," adding, "A bigger framework is needed to accommodate the heightened expectations of the people and the changing times." He continued, "We have already entered a society where it is difficult for a single president to solve all problems," and "We must move toward power decentralization and cooperation."

Speaker Kim acknowledged, "While there is a sense of necessity for constitutional amendment, there are also concerns that discussions might act like a black hole, absorbing everything and disrupting state administration," and said, "As Speaker, I will prepare first by consulting experts to review the timing, method, and scope of the amendment to achieve a people-unifying constitutional amendment. I ask the ruling and opposition parties to form a National Assembly Special Committee on Constitutional Amendment to start discussions together."

Below is the full text of Speaker Kim’s congratulatory address.

Constitutional Amendment for National Unity Must No Longer Be Delayed

- 74th Constitution Day Address -

Dear respected citizens,

This summer is hotter and more challenging than ever. It is mid-July, yet the heatwave and monsoon rains are already rampant. The subdued COVID-19 is rising again.

Many families are losing sleep at night because they cannot turn on the air conditioner due to electricity cost concerns, and rising prices make going to the market frightening.

Office workers worry about increasing lunch costs, and restaurant owners sigh under the burden of rising ingredient prices. This is a summer of multiple hardships.

The situation of our people is truly pitiful. Over the past two and a half years, our citizens have sacrificed much for the safety of their families and neighbors.

The vast majority willingly participated in social distancing and mask-wearing, and completed the highest number of vaccinations in the shortest period. The world admired the high civic spirit of our people, and Bloomberg ranked South Korea as the number one country in COVID-19 resilience.

◆ Overcome the Current Economic Crisis with Unity of Ruling, Opposition, Government, and Private Sectors

We thought that overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic would bring a brilliant rainbow of hope, but now a huge wave of challenges is approaching again.

A complex economic crisis comparable to the foreign exchange crisis and global financial crisis, the so-called perfect storm, is coming. Prices, interest rates, and exchange rates?all directly affecting people’s lives?are rising. Meanwhile, the stock market has fallen the most sharply worldwide in the first half of the year.

This crisis began amid the rapid realignment of the world into camps in a new Cold War involving the U.S., China, Russia, and others. It is a complex problem that cannot be solved by economic measures alone.

Because the causes are complex, the response must be comprehensive. It is essential to establish measures covering politics, economy, diplomacy, and security. The ruling and opposition parties, government and National Assembly, private and public sectors must join hands. A united crisis response is necessary.

Protecting the lives of the people is the most urgent task. Past economic crises left much harsher wounds on the common people and socially vulnerable. This is likely again.

The wounds from COVID-19 have not yet fully healed. We must quickly prepare measures to protect the weary lives of our people. First, second, and third priority is people’s livelihood.

◆ National Unity and Parliamentaryism Are the Spirit of the Constitution... It Is Time for Politics That Resolves Conflict

Dear respected citizens,

The role of the political sphere is crucial. ‘The people’ and ‘national interest’ must be the priorities of politics. We must overcome the current economic and livelihood crisis and surmount the hill of polarization for the nation’s long-term future. We must also open new paths in education to create a better future.

Regardless of party, let us reflect on whether our politics is excessively stuck on past issues or wasting time on internal conflicts. What matters is not the past but today and tomorrow. It is the lives of the people.

Our society is now experiencing unprecedented conflicts and divisions?ideological, class, generational, and gender conflicts erupt everywhere.

More people are taking to the streets rather than the National Assembly. We must listen to the criticism that politics is failing to perform its role.

The mission of the National Assembly is to resolve conflicts and unite the hearts of the people. However, our Assembly is criticized for creating conflicts instead. This is painful.

This cannot continue. We must reform politics and work to unite the hearts of the people again.

Dear respected citizens,

Today, we gather to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the Constitution’s enactment. Looking back, our constitutional history has been a fierce struggle for national unity. The very beginning of our constitutional history was a decision for national unity.

Under Japanese colonial rule, the first task patriotic activists undertook for independence was drafting a constitution. They agreed that the first step was to create a big vessel to hold the hearts of a nation that had lost its country. So, they made the constitution before forming the provisional government.

In 1919, the Provisional Charter of the Republic of Korea, enacted this way, became the root of our constitution. In 1948, the constitution was made before establishing the government.

Along with constitutional enactment, parliamentaryism was another powerful means to unite the people’s hearts. Independence activists fought hard to uphold parliamentaryism. Even amid hardships and thorny paths, the provisional government’s administrative measures were executed with the approval of the provisional assembly. Despite being in a foreign land and an uncertain exile, they held parliamentary sessions overnight.

Our National Assembly also did not close its doors in the midst of the Korean War. Even in the refugee capital Busan, the Assembly remained open without rest. They believed that national unity was more important in times of crisis, so they kept the Assembly open.

Recently, our Assembly has experienced a complete vacancy for over a month, even without a Speaker. The organization of the Assembly has not yet been completed.

Livelihood issues are piling up like mountains. The Assembly doors must remain open under any circumstances. Let us urgently complete the organization and revise laws and practices to prevent such Assembly vacancies from recurring.

◆ Let Us Open a New Constitutional Era of Cooperation Beyond Conflict Politics

Dear respected citizens,

On this Constitution Day morning, I reflect again on the spirit of the Constitution. Is our constitution exerting a strong centripetal force for national unity as it did on the day of its enactment? Is parliamentaryism, a powerful means of national unity, functioning properly?

The current constitution, born from the 1987 democratic uprising, aims to end dictatorship and realize democracy. It has faithfully fulfilled that role so far.

Thirty-five years have passed. During this time, our society has undergone dramatic changes. Low birth rates, aging population, inequality, climate change, and regional decentralization?new era challenges are emerging one after another. The public’s expectations have risen. Our people yearn for new changes and progress.

A bigger framework is needed to accommodate the heightened expectations and changing times. We have already entered a society where a single president cannot handle all problems. There are many challenges that a single administration or party with a five-year term cannot solve alone. We must honestly acknowledge this fact.

This is not a matter of ruling or opposition parties. As it stands, whoever becomes the ruling or opposition party will inevitably repeat conflicts.

We must move toward power decentralization and cooperation. Instead of relying on the leadership of a single outstanding individual, we must build a country operated by the power of cooperation.

Our constitutional history shows that at every turning point in Korean history, the constitution has provided stability. When the constitution united the hearts of the people, Korea advanced. When the constitution fulfilled its role, Korea took a leap forward.

Let us open a new constitutional era of cooperation beyond conflict politics. Only then can Korea progress and protect the lives of its people. The starting point is constitutional amendment.

◆ Gather the People’s Energy in the Constitutional Amendment Process... Let It Be a Stepping Stone for a Great Leap Forward

Dear respected citizens,

Our society has had many discussions on constitutional amendment. Broad public consensus has been formed. Now is the time to act.

While feeling the need for constitutional amendment, some voices worry that discussions might act like a black hole, absorbing everything and disrupting state administration.

Let us unite the energy of the people to promote a new form of constitutional amendment that opens the door to the future. Let us make the amendment process itself a stepping stone for Korea’s great leap forward. Let us pursue a people-unifying constitutional amendment with new ideas, not a black hole amendment.

As Speaker of the National Assembly, I will prepare first to achieve a people-unifying constitutional amendment. I will consult experts to review the timing, method, and scope of the amendment. To this end, I intend to establish the directly under the Speaker’s office. Together with experts from various fields, we will prepare a blueprint to implement a cooperative constitutional system.

I also request the ruling and opposition parties to form a National Assembly to start discussions together.

Improving the winner-takes-all, loser-loses-all electoral system is also urgent. Before the last general election, the political sphere promised to amend the election law based on representativeness and proportionality. However, they did not fully keep that promise to the people. Preparations must be made to achieve election law reform within the term of the 21st National Assembly.

Amendments to the National Assembly Act are also necessary. As stipulated in the constitution, the Assembly’s budget review and approval authority must be significantly strengthened. A new path must be opened for close consultation among the ruling party, opposition, and government on major issues. The negotiation culture centered on bargaining must be changed to a cooperative governance culture centered on discussion.

Discussions on constitutional and institutional improvements, including constitutional amendment, must proceed with bipartisan agreement. Please begin discussions on a cooperative constitutional system covering the constitution, election law, and National Assembly Act.

◆ Flexible and Balanced Pragmatic Parliamentary Diplomacy Needed in the New Cold War Era

Dear respected citizens,

The international order is being sucked into a whirlpool of fierce camp confrontations. The new Cold War era is beginning.

We still live in an armistice system. We are on a precarious thin ice. We are also economically very closely connected with countries including China.

The international order of the new Cold War is a matter of survival for us. It is a reality that we must align with our allies, and also a reality that we must closely cooperate with neighboring countries for economy and security.

I will pursue pragmatic parliamentary diplomacy. While emphasizing alliance diplomacy, I will promote flexible and balanced parliamentary diplomacy. The National Assembly will take the lead in filling diplomatic gaps that the government cannot handle.

Separate from official government talks, I intend to continuously promote inter-parliamentary dialogue between the South and North. Through this, I will open a breathing space for practical inter-Korean cooperation. Former Speaker Park Byeong-seok proposed inter-Korean parliamentary talks. This proposal remains valid. I am ready to meet the top representatives of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the North anytime, anywhere.

◆ I Will Devote Myself to Politics That Resolves Conflict and Achieves National Unity

Dear citizens,

The ultimate goal our predecessors sought through constitutional enactment was national unity.

A constitutional system that can unite the hearts of the people is urgently needed. Let us end the era of politics that creates conflict and move toward politics that leads cooperation.

Only then can Korea advance. We can achieve livelihood stability and peace on the Korean Peninsula. We can overcome the current crisis.

As Speaker of the National Assembly, I will devote myself to politics that resolves conflict and aims for national unity. I will steadfastly move forward to open a new constitutional era of cooperation. I ask for the support of the people. Thank you.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.