"<strong>South Korean Presidential Powers Stronger Than Any Other Liberal Democracy Worldwide</strong> [Constitutional Amendment, Connecting the Future]"

J?rg Michael Dostal, a professor at Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Administration (photo), stated in a written interview with Asia Economy on the 28th, "The constitution only allows emergency rule in 'disaster' situations. Political conflicts with opposition parties or standoffs over the national budget cannot justify a president's 'self-coup'." Professor Dostal, originally from Germany, has been a professor in the Department of Public Administration at Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Administration since 2009. Born in 1969, he earned a master's degree in political science from Freie Universit?t Berlin in 1998 and a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Oxford in 2005.

Professor Dostal argued that presidential powers should be curtailed through constitutional amendment, and at the same time, the powers of other institutional bodies that can check the president's authority should be strengthened. He said, "If an individual exercising the presidency with excessive powers functions abnormally, it can lead to a constitutional crisis. South Korea's political system needs to be strengthened so that institutions, rather than a leader-centered approach, maintain consistency and establish long-term plans."

Using the French 'cohabitation government' as an example, he said, "The most important point is that clear rules must be established on how the political system should operate when the president and the National Assembly are controlled by different parties."

Jorg Michael Dostal, Professor at the Graduate School of Public Administration, Seoul National University. Photo by Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Administration website

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Professor Dostal defined the constitution as a "remnant left over from compromises during the democratization transition process." South Korea introduced direct presidential elections through the 1987 constitutional amendment, but the strengthening of various presidential powers entrenched political centralization.

Professor Dostal analyzed that the main reason constitutional amendments have repeatedly failed is that the two major parties have been unwilling to cooperate. He viewed that constructive discussions for reform are impossible under the current political system and structure.

He said, "The biggest reason necessary constitutional amendments are repeatedly frustrated is that South Korea's party system is immature," and evaluated, "Current parties are closer to loose networks rather than stable organizations with consistent ideologies." He added, "South Korea's party system is solidified by an overwhelming single-member district system and winner-takes-all principle, and this structure fosters organizational and ideological emptiness within parties."

Earlier, Professor Dostal made similar points in his paper titled 'South Korea: The Lasting Pitfalls of the 'Imperial Presidency' (2023).' In the paper, he analyzed that although there was a movement for constitutional amendment in 2017, it ultimately failed because the two-party system dominance persists under the winner-takes-all principle. He pointed out, "The two major parties use the political system as a tool to conduct a 'perpetual war' against the opposing camp."

Professor Dostal believes that for constitutional amendment to succeed, the mindset of politicians must change above all else. He emphasized that the ultimate goal of constitutional amendment should be the decentralization of powers, strengthening the internal capacities of institutions including political parties, and providing incentives for constructive behavior by politicians.

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