Ruling Party Slams Assembly Speaker Over Term Extension Remarks

South Korea's ruling People Power Party fiercely criticized National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo's recent statement that the issue of extending the current president's term is a matter for public opinion and choice. The party's chief spokesperson, Park Chung-kwon, issued a statement calling the speaker's remarks a "dangerous idea that shakes the principles of democracy" and a "strategic, self-serving ambition to prolong the administration under the guise of public choice." Park accused the speaker of threatening the constitutional order by endorsing such a move. The party emphasized that using the constitution as a tool to extend a presidential term is unacceptable. The People Power Party urged Speaker Kim to immediately halt discussions on constitutional amendments driven by political strategy. They called on him to return to his fundamental duty of overseeing the National Assembly and checking the legislative overreach of the majority party. Earlier, Speaker Kim had announced plans to form a special committee on constitutional reform within the year, aiming to finalize a roadmap and agenda for potential amendments. He also proposed establishing a consultative body and a digital platform for public participation in the process. Kim's comment on presidential term extension came in response to a reporter's question about opposition concerns that the ultimate goal of constitutional reform might be to extend the current president's term.

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The discussion of extending the presidential term is a dangerous idea that shakes the principles of democracy, and a strategic, self-serving ambition to prolong the administration under the guise of public choice.