Roh Defends Term Limit Reform Plan

In response to the opposition party’s criticism that the President Roh Moo-hyun’s proposal on January 10 to amend the constitution to give the president double four-year term is a political tactic, he said, “Those who oppose necessary amendments have political interest in mind rather than the ones who are for it do.”

In a luncheon meeting with heads of legislative, judiciary and administrative branches and constitutional institutions in Cheong Wa Dae, President Roh retorted that, “Groundless and politically charged oppositions are pouring out.”

The meeting was held to accommodate the public opinion from all sectors following the amendment proposition, with National Assembly speaker Lim Chae-jeong, Chief Justice of Supreme Court Lee Yong-hoon, Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook, and National Election Commission Chairperson Goh Hyeon-cheol.

The president responded on the tight timeline for the amendment, “We have enough time to do the amendment twice, taking the case in 1987 as a guide. After the motion, we need three months. Adding the preparation period prior to the proposal, four months are needed.”

Despite his determination to the amendment, various polls show that the public wants the constitution amendment to be carried out during the next administration. In addition, the ruling Uri Party remains passive about the proposal, saying the amendment should be conducted cautiously.

Uri Party Chairperson Kim Geun-tae said, “The amendment is amendment and the future is future. The nation does not have to be shaken by the proposal,” in the emergency meeting on the issue. One day earlier, Kim welcomed the proposal. An official of the ruling party said, “The party will not initiate the constitutional amendment. We do not intend to form a special organization within the party for amendment.”

Mentioning Cheong Wa Dae’s remark that it would make the proposal regardless of the opposing voices, Grand National Party spokesperson Yoo Ki-joon said, “Cheong Wa Dae showed arrogance that it regarded the public as puppets. By making such remark, it threatened the Koreans that it would push for what it wanted regardless of what the public want.”

President Roh plans to invite leaders of the ruling and opposition parties to Cheong Wa Dae on January 11, yet GNP and Democratic Labor Party (DLP) will not participate. Spokesperson Park Yong-jin of DLP said, “Considering the concerns that the luncheon at the Cheong Wa Dae can trigger a controversy surrounding the amendment against the public opinion, we decided not to go to the meeting.”

jyw11@donga.com mindy@donga.com