Economy comes as priority over Constitution revision debate: PM

South Korea's Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said Tuesday that the country need to focus its efforts on revitalizing the national economy, amid the rising voice among some lawmakers that Seoul should seek to revise the Constitution to change the current presidential system.

"Although there are talks on Constitution revision, the government believes it is more important to revitalize the economy and stabilize the living quality of ordinary people at present," Hwang said during an interpellation session held at the National Assembly.

During the meeting, members of the ruling Saenuri Party, as well as opposition parties said the country must establish a special committee to discuss possible changes to the Constitution in a full-fledged manner.

Rep. Kim Sung-tae of Saenuri pointed out that the Constitution has remained unchanged since 1987, adding debate on change is needed and there should not be any further delays.

"Due to the current five-year, single-term presidential system, the country's policies are also changing every five years," Rep. Park Chan-woo of Saenuri also said, adding such a system hinders South Korea from implementing a consistent policy against Pyongyang.

"We need to complete the revision by the first half of 2017, and conduct the upcoming presidential election under the new system" Park added.

Rep. Won Hye-young of the Minjoo Party of Korea echoed the view, adding the existing Constitution gave birth to an "imperial presidency," adding the parliament must take the lead in pushing for a revision. Critics of the current system point out that too much power is vested in the chief executive with he or she exerting too much influence over the running of the country. (Yonhap)