When can constitutional amendment be completed?

As President Park Geun-hye declared a "push for constitutional amendment" on Monday, people in the political circle have presented a flurry of opinions about when to hold a national referendum. People in politics suggest that Korea concurrently hold a national referendum timed with the April by-elections and re-elections or the presidential election in December next year to save massive costs involved.

Rep. Kim Sung-tae, who is close to former ruling Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung, issued a press release on Monday, saying, “There is no more time or justification to put it off further. Since the by-elections and re-elections are scheduled on April 12 next year, we need to set a roadmap targeting the April elections as the national referendum day.” As a string of suggestions have been made about the need for constitutional amendment, some politicians believe that it will not take much time to form a parliamentary special committee on constitutional amendment and the ruling and opposition parties to reach agreement.

According to the Constitution, once a constitutional amendment bill is adopted, the president should publicize the bill for at least 20 days and the National Assembly should vote within 60 days after from the date of publicizing. If two thirds of the parliamentarians (200 or more) at the National Assembly approve, the bill should be put to a national referendum within 30 days. After former President Chun Doo-hwan made the June 29 declaration in 1987, it took four months before the current Constitution was proclaimed.

Given the current political situation, however, not a few politicians say that the national referendum will be inevitably put off until next year's presidential election. “Discussions about constitutional amendment can be held in earnest only after review of next year’s state budget is completed at a regular session of the National Assembly,” Saenuri's vice floor leader Rep. Kim Do-eup told The Dong-A Ilbo over the phone on the day, adding that it is only his personal view. “The 1987 amendment was made to introduce the direct presidential election system, but the current situation is different due to diverse opinions and discussions needed,” Kim said.

송찬욱 기자song@donga.com