Constitutional amendment waits for after G20 summit

The issue of revising the Constitution, for the first time since 1987, has been on top of the political reform agenda for years, but never took shape and is still widely seen as unworkable.

Nevertheless, it is brewing to appear on the table next month after the Seoul G20summit.

Ruling Grand National Party floor leader Kim Moo-sung said Sunday that a special parliamentary panel for the revision must be launched by the year end. He disclosed an agreement made in 2007 by floor leaders of all parties to tackle the amendment at the beginning of the 18th National Assembly which was elected in 2008.

Kim said that the discussion on the amendment should be led by the party’s existing legislators’ study society and a special panel which should consist of the same numbers of ruling and opposition lawmakers.

In the 18th National Assembly, about 140 legislators from both ruling and opposition parties took part in a study club to discuss future constitution and an advisory panel organized under control of the National Assembly speakerpresented ideas for the amendment.

“I was not given any word from the president regarding the revision,” Kim told reporters Sunday.

“The issue will be discussed within the GNP after the G20 summit, and we will hold a congress to determine our stance.“