Stony Brook University Faculty of Sciences and Humanities

[Hankyung Essay] Constitutional Amendment for a Great Nation

Korean politics is in a crisis. The checks and balances have collapsed, and dialogue and compromise have disappeared. Following the president, the prime minister who acted as the president’s proxy was also impeached. Many argue that the issue lies in the imperial presidential system. But is that really the case? How did the United States become the world’s leading superpower? What is the core principle of the U.S. presidential system, and where does the power of American democracy come from?

About 250 years ago, the Founding Fathers of the United States created the world’s first federal system and presidential system to form their constitution. What they disliked most was the British monarchy. Therefore, when they created the constitution, they made sure to divide the national power between the president and Congress to prevent the president from exercising power like a king. They also set up a system of checks and balances between the president and Congress.

Political scientist Charles Jones, in his book <The Presidency in a Separated System>, explains that the principle of checks and balances is naturally realized through the regular elections held every two years in the U.S. Every two years, the American people either empower the president further or give the opposition party more power in Congress to better check the president. Additionally, if the president performs well, the people can give them another four years; if not, they can change the president in four years. Through regular elections every two years, the American people evaluate and judge both the president and Congress, minimizing the harm of an imperial presidency. Because elections are held every two years, political parties focus more on healthy policy debates, driven by the constant fear of losing support from the people.

Last week, the Heonjeonghoe (Association of Former Members of the National Assembly) suggested that the current political crisis presents an ideal opportunity for constitutional reform and proposed a single-point constitutional amendment. The proposed changes, including a 4-year presidential term with the possibility of re-election, a dual presidency with a vice president, and a bicameral legislature, all seem promising. The most important reform should be to establish a regular two-year election cycle in Korea. Both the president and the National Assembly should be held accountable every two years through elections. This would ensure that true national power comes from the people.

Recently, the issue of the unclear legal authority of the acting president led to confusion during the impeachment process. In the United States, if the president is unable to perform their duties, power is transferred in a clear order: to the vice president, then the Speaker of the House, the President of the Senate, and finally the Secretary of State.

About a decade ago, Goldman Sachs predicted that by 2050, South Korea would become the second wealthiest country in the world, after the United States. Through a favorable constitutional amendment, I hope that Korea too can aspire to become a great nation and eventually produce respected, successful presidents like Abraham Lincoln or Franklin D. Roosevelt. May the new year, 2025, be the year that South Korea takes its first steps toward becoming a great nation.

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