On the 14th, the Blue House announced, "We believe that a four-year renewable presidential term with strengthened parliamentary powers has the highest level of public acceptance. It is the President's principle that a consensus on constitutional amendment must be pursued." The Advanced Bar Association clearly opposes the pursuit of constitutional amendment at this time.

The current Constitution, born from the 9th constitutional amendment in 1987, inherits the legitimacy of the Republic of Korea's founding and the original Constitution. In particular, the 1987 Constitution established a new system of checks and balances between the President and the National Assembly by significantly strengthening the latter's powers.

The constitutional crisis currently facing the Republic of Korea stems largely from a failure to properly uphold and implement the basic principles of the Constitution, including the principle of due process, rather than from the text of the Constitution itself.

Pushing for constitutional amendment without sincere reflection and rectification of the misuse of the current Constitution will not solve the problem. On the contrary, attributing the failures of constitutional governance to the Constitution itself and redesigning the power structure may lead to new conflicts and even greater constitutional turmoil.

Above all, a constitutional amendment must be finalized through a national referendum. Therefore, ensuring the integrity and fairness of the vote, and securing public trust in its results, must take precedence over any discussion of constitutional reform.

If a national referendum to change the nation's supreme law is pushed forward while significant questions and distrust regarding voting procedures and results remain unresolved, the conflict surrounding the outcome could plunge the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea into an uncontrollable crisis.

What is needed now is not a hasty constitutional amendment. It is more urgent to reaffirm the founding principles and the spirit of the Constitution of the Republic of Korea, to form a healthy public consensus on the future vision and direction of the nation, and to establish the integrity, fairness, and reliability of elections and voting.

Under current conditions, where these prerequisites have not been met, pursuing a constitutional amendment can hardly be seen as a responsible choice for the nation, its people, and future generations.

The Advanced Bar Association clearly opposes the pursuit of constitutional amendment at this time for the stable development of the Republic of Korea's constitutional order and the substantive guarantee of national sovereignty.

August 14, 2026

Advanced Bar Association