People Power Party Chair Rep. Kwon Young-se speaks at a meeting of the party leadership Thursday. Yonhap
People Power Party Chair Rep. Kwon Young-se speaks at a meeting of the party leadership Thursday. Yonhap

The ruling People Power Party leader Rep. Kwon Young-se said Thursday that the party would push for a constitutional amendment to shorten the presidential term if suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol is reinstated following the Constitutional Court's ruling on his impeachment Friday.

"The president himself has said that he would not dwell on his term in office. The party will do our best to craft a Constitution that aligns with the spirit of the times and reflects the will of the people,” Kwon said during the party’s emergency meeting held ahead of the court’s ruling.

Kwon also stressed that the party would “accept the result of the ruling,” urging the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea to reflect fully and formally announce its willingness to accept the ruling.

Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the People Power Party floor leader, also reiterated that both ruling and opposition parties should respect the court’s verdict.

During the final hearing in Yoon's impeachment trial on Feb. 25, Yoon revealed in his final statement his plan to amend the Constitution — which was last revised in 1987 — stating that would be his “final mission” as president if he were to be reinstated.

“If reinstated, I will focus the remainder of my term on constitutional reform and political overhaul,” Yoon told the justices, hinting at shortening the presidential term from the current five to four years.

The 1987 Constitution limits South Korea's president to one five-year term, without the possibility of reelection, to prevent long-term dictatorships.

However, People Power Party Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, who played a major role in getting Yoon elected in 2022 by agreeing to unify his campaign with Yoon's, wrote on Facebook Wednesday that regardless of the court’s decision, he believes constitutional reform is necessary to reduce the powers of the president.

Ahn also said that even if Yoon is reinstated, he hopes Yoon will keep his promise and not maintain the single five-year term for the presidency.

Meanwhile, Democratic Party of Korea Chair Rep. Lee Jae-myung said it is “up to Yoon” to accept the court’s ruling.

“That is for Yoon to accept,” Lee stressed to reporters on Wednesday. “Imagine the bloodshed that would occur,” Lee added, speaking about the possibility of Yoon being reinstated.


arin@heraldcorp.com