The main opposition party's floor leader on Wednesday proposed holding a referendum next year to determine whether to change the political system through a constitutional revision.

Rep. Woo Yoon-keun, floor leader of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, made the call during a speech marking the start of this month's extra parliamentary session, saying the National Assembly should launch a special committee to begin discussions on the issue this month.

"We should leave open all possibilities, including decentralization and a parliamentary system, draw up a proposal over a year for a constitutional amendment that goes beyond partisan politics, based on the discussions so far, and put it to a referendum during the April parliamentary elections next year," he said in his address to the National Assembly.

Woo's proposal comes amid a renewed debate over whether the current Constitution drawn up in 1987 should be amended to change the president's single, five-year term to a four-year term with the possibility of re-election, among other issues.

South Korea introduced the single-term presidency in 1987 after decades of autocratic rule by military-backed presidents. The system was primarily aimed at keeping the president from attempting to hold on to power through illicit means.

"A constitutional revision is not just a matter of interest for politicians, but a demand of the people, and the people are calling for political stability through a constitutional amendment," Woo said.

President Park Geun-hye has expressed strong opposition to the idea of a constitutional debate, saying it would become a "black hole" for other pending issues, including the task of reviving the slumping economy.

Citing Park's 2012 campaign pledge to push for a constitutional revision, Woo demanded she publicly acknowledge if she is unable to keep her promise.

The ruling Saenuri Party expressed reservations about the proposal, saying it is premature to consider a referendum on a constitutional amendment.

"Now is the time to concentrate the country's resources on reviving the economy, not on revising the Constitution," ruling party spokesman Park Dae-chul said in a press briefing. "February's extra parliamentary session should be faithful to its proper purpose of stabilizing the people's livelihoods and reviving the economy." (Yonhap)