Political Controversies on `Constitutional Revision Document`

The political controversies were brought about by the alleged constitutional revision document by the ruling party that describes the plan for the revision of the constitution and the merge of the ruling coalitions of the New Millennium Democratic Party, the United Liberal Democrats, and the Democratic People`s Party around the time of the visit of North Korea`s Defense Commission Chairperson Kim Jong-Il to Seoul.

In terms of the document entitled `Political Timetable Henceforth` reported by some newspapers, the Grand National Party defined it as `a plot for the extension of the political power beyond the constitution` and demanded the explanation of the President and the presidential statement that (ruling party) ``will not use the Inter-Korean relationship for the constitutional revision.``

Kim Ki-Bae, the secretary general of GNP, remarked that ``the document includes very significant contents related with the national polity, that is, to conclude the peace treaty with the North and to revise the constitution by the referendum, [GNP] will strongly respond against the government that tries to prolong its political power even sacrificing the liberal democracy and the capitalism.``

However, Chun Yong-Hak, the spokesperson of NMDP, refuted the claims, saying ``the document is really absurd. The major party leaders including chairperson Kim Joong-Kwon have never seen the document before.``

Nam Gung-Jin, the senior secretary to the President for political affairs, also commented, ``the document is far below the standard considering its content and format. It seems like a note of someone`s idea.``

The document anticipates the forthcoming political situation as ``if Chairperson Kim Jong-Il visits Seoul around August and a visible achievement for the unification of the Korean peninsula such as a peace treaty is accomplished, that will stimulate the constitutional revision. But if not, next presidential election will be carried out by the current constitution.`` The newspaper that reported the document reported `a core personnel of the Donggyo-Dong circle made the document` but it did not identify the person.

Kim Chang-Hyuk chang@donga.com