GNP polls support changes to Constitution
Published: 11 Sep. 2009, 02:45
Six in 10 people support a constitutional amendment that would dramatically alter the structure of the domestic political system by doing away with the single-term, five-year presidency, according to the results of a poll conducted by a conservative think tank.
Two surveys by the Youido Institute, run by the Grand National Party, showed than 34 percent of the polled want a constitutional amendment before the end of this year, it was announced yesterday, while another 42 percent said changes should be made before 2010.
The surveys on the constitutional amendment were conducted on Aug. 26 and Sept. 3. A total of 5,172 were polled through telephone surveys nationwide.
In the first poll of 3,446 people, or 48.2 percent, said they want the current single five-year-term presidency changed to the U.S.-style, two-term, four-year presidency, while 35.2 percent said they prefer a hybrid “presidential-parliamentary” government system. Another 10.4 percent said they want a parliamentary cabinet system.
The second poll, conducted last week with 1,726 people, asked participants to choose between a two-term, four-year presidency and a “presidential-parliamentary” government system. In this poll, 44.6 percent of respondents supported for the presidential-parliamentary system, while 42.9 percent backed the U.S.-style presidency.
The GNP think tank held a forum with scholars yesterday to discuss the constitutional amendment.
Last week, an advisory council to the National Assembly speaker on constitutional research made public its recommendations that Korea should adopt a hybrid “presidential-parliamentary” government in which the prime minister commands domestic, foreign and defense affairs. The U.S.-style presidency was proposed as a second alternative.
At yesterday’s seminar, scholars were divided over which governance system should be adopted. Kang Kyung-keun, a professor of law at Soongsil University, said it was time to amend the constitution to prevent a president from prematurely becoming a lame duck.
Jeon Hak-seok, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said it is desirable to reflect what people really want by linking the legislature and the administration through legislative and presidential election outcomes.
By Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
Two surveys by the Youido Institute, run by the Grand National Party, showed than 34 percent of the polled want a constitutional amendment before the end of this year, it was announced yesterday, while another 42 percent said changes should be made before 2010.
The surveys on the constitutional amendment were conducted on Aug. 26 and Sept. 3. A total of 5,172 were polled through telephone surveys nationwide.
In the first poll of 3,446 people, or 48.2 percent, said they want the current single five-year-term presidency changed to the U.S.-style, two-term, four-year presidency, while 35.2 percent said they prefer a hybrid “presidential-parliamentary” government system. Another 10.4 percent said they want a parliamentary cabinet system.
The second poll, conducted last week with 1,726 people, asked participants to choose between a two-term, four-year presidency and a “presidential-parliamentary” government system. In this poll, 44.6 percent of respondents supported for the presidential-parliamentary system, while 42.9 percent backed the U.S.-style presidency.
The GNP think tank held a forum with scholars yesterday to discuss the constitutional amendment.
Last week, an advisory council to the National Assembly speaker on constitutional research made public its recommendations that Korea should adopt a hybrid “presidential-parliamentary” government in which the prime minister commands domestic, foreign and defense affairs. The U.S.-style presidency was proposed as a second alternative.
At yesterday’s seminar, scholars were divided over which governance system should be adopted. Kang Kyung-keun, a professor of law at Soongsil University, said it was time to amend the constitution to prevent a president from prematurely becoming a lame duck.
Jeon Hak-seok, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said it is desirable to reflect what people really want by linking the legislature and the administration through legislative and presidential election outcomes.
By Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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