Three Parties Seek Four-Year, Two-term Presidency

Amid opposition from the largest Democratic Party, three parties have agreed to reduce the immediate term of the next president to three years for an eventual four-year two-term presidency.

Rep. Hong Il-pyo of the Bareun Party told KBS on Friday that the Liberty Korea Party, the People’s Party and his party agreed to such changes to the current single, five-year term in their draft constitutional amendment.
 
Under the envisioned amendment, the term of the upcoming president will be cut to three years but with the option of running in the following presidential election.
 
Given the four-year two-term would be effective from the 20th presidency, the winner in the May presidential election could extend the leadership to a possible third term.
 
The three parties are pushing to hold a referendum on the revision at the same time as the presidential election slated for May ninth.
 
The draft amendment can be submitted to parliament with the approval of two-thirds or 200 of the 300-seat assembly, but the passage will not be easy due to the Democratic Party’s opposition.