South Korean Speaker Proposes Constitution Revision to Limit Presidential Power

The Speaker of the South Korean Parliament proposed revising the country’s constitution to curb presidential powers. Citing public support for the move, the speaker proposed the amendment on Sunday after President Yoon Suk Yeol was ousted after the recent declaration of martial law.

“After going through the unconstitutional and illegal martial law and impeachment, the public consensus on the urgency of Constitution revision is greater than ever,” said Woo Won-shik, the national assembly speaker.

National Referendum

The speaker also proposed a national referendum on constitutional reforms that will coincide with the presidential elections. The constitutional court upheld parliament, impeachment of Yoon for declaring martial law on December 3, 2024.

“The national confusion has come to an end with the constitutional court’s ruling, but the potential for destructive conflict surrounding presidential power still exists,” added the speaker. He also said that many South Koreans want to change the imperial presidency.

On the fifth of April, South Korea’s constitutional court officially removed President Yoon Suk Yeol from office, pushing the country towards a by-election within 60 days. This unanimous verdict by all the judges comes a month after Yoon declared Marshall law and dispatched troops to the national assembly. This move of the President was recognised as a blatant constitutional violation by the Higher Court. 

Yoon narrowly won the presidential elections in 2022. He alleges that the liberal opposition was anti-state and using its majority to block their agenda.