More than half of Koreans believe a constitutional amendment is necessary to reform the country's presidential system, citing shortcomings in the current political structure and the need to establish stronger checks and balances to curb excessive presidential powers, according to an opinion poll conducted by The Korea Times.

According to the poll conducted by Hankook Research at the request of The Korea Times, 56 percent of 1,000 respondents expressed support for amending the Constitution to reform the current single, five-year presidential term. Meanwhile, 39 percent of those surveyed opposed the idea, and the remaining 5 percent did not provide a response. The survey was carried out over two days, from Thursday to Friday.

The poll was conducted approximately three weeks after President Yoon Suk Yeol briefly imposed martial law, an action he defended as part of his executive authority to govern.

However, the poll indicates that most citizens disapprove of the current system, which grants such excessive power to the president, and instead support measures to limit executive authority.

These opinions were consistent across various groups, including gender, region, and political ideology. For example, 61 percent of respondents identifying as politically liberal supported the change. Similarly, 57 percent of those with centrist views and 51 percent of conservatives also agreed that such an amendment is necessary.

Regarding the reasons for change, 45 percent cited the need to address the shortcomings of the single, five-year term system, while 35 percent emphasized the importance of dispersing or limiting presidential powers to ensure better checks and balances. Another 17 percent pointed to the need to improve the current electoral system, which allows a candidate to win the presidency without securing a majority of the vote.

One of the presidential powers people believe should be limited is the veto on bills passed by the National Assembly. According to the poll, 64 percent of respondents believe there should be a limit on the number of times the president can exercise veto power. This concern stems from Yoon's exercise of veto power on more than 25 opposition-led bills, including three related to special investigations into corruption allegations involving his wife, Kim Keon Hee.

A view of the presidential office in Seoul / Yonhap

Drawbacks of single, 5-year presidential term

It has long been noted that while the single, five-year presidential term was originally designed to prevent prolonged rule by authoritarian governments, it has significant drawbacks. These include intense factional conflicts every five years, difficulties in addressing issues that require long-term policy reviews, and challenges to continuity in governance. The prevalence of lame-duck periods toward the end of a president's tenure is also one of the system's shortcomings.

Professor Chang Young-soo at Korea University School of Law explained that Korea is currently facing "a prolonged delay in constitutional amendment" and emphasized the need for such a change.

"Since the country's Constitution was enacted in 1948, it underwent nine amendments over a 39-year period, up until 1987. However, in the 38 years since then, there have been no constitutional revisions at all. This prolonged delay highlights a significant issue of stagnation and shows the urgent need to address numerous pressing matters requiring revision," Chang told The Korea Times.

The professor emphasized that the issue of the so-called "imperial presidency" — a defining feature of Korea's single, five-year term — must be addressed. With power systematically concentrated in the presidency, the country has frequently witnessed politicized appointments to the judiciary, as presidents attempt to control the judicial branch, thereby undermining the principle of separation of powers.

The declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024 by Yoon further exposed the ineffectiveness of internal controls within the executive branch, underscoring the urgent need for reforms, he said.

Kang Won-taek, a professor of political science at Seoul National University, also expressed the view that the current presidential system has institutional problems and highlighted the need to consider ways to limit presidential powers.

"When conflict arises between the president and the National Assembly, the presidential system lacks the institutional mechanisms to resolve such disputes. When these conflicts escalate, the legislature may seek impeachment against the president, while the president could consider relying on military power. This is what happened in South America, and it has now become our reality," the professor said.

Kang said that the overall weaknesses of Korea's political system have started to emerge in recent years, and it seems that this has now reached its peak.

"This creates a need to reduce presidential powers," he said, suggesting that it could mark a turning point for change.

President Yoon Suk Yeol and then-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo enter the Cabinet meeting room at the presidential office in Seoul in this March 21, 2023 photo. Korea Times file

Dual-executive system

Regarding which political arrangement would most effectively check the president's excessive powers, legal and political experts interviewed by The Korea Times suggested that a decentralized presidential system — also known as a dual-executive republic — would be the most suitable.

"Rather than the extreme polarization seen in a winner-takes-all system of the current presidential term, a decentralized system could encourage healthy competition, where the ruling and opposition parties vie to demonstrate who governs better, rather than engaging in obstructive tactics," Chang pointed out.

"For such a system to function effectively, the prime minister should be elected by the National Assembly, not appointed by the president. In this divided government, when the ruling party does not hold a majority in the Assembly, a prime minister elected by the opposition would introduce a competitive dynamic, which could improve the system."

Kang also agreed that a decentralized presidential system would be more effective in resolving political conflicts.

"In a presidential system, the power dynamics are vertical, and because the people have granted the president governing authority, it fundamentally cannot be shared. The president must make decisions and judgments alone," Kang said. "In contrast, in a parliamentary-style system or a decentralized presidential system similar to a parliamentary system, multiple groups can work together, enabling power-sharing. In such a system, power is not solely delegated to one president, so governance can be shared."

He also suggested that a four-year, dual-term, and decentralized presidential system could be a feasible option that might garner public consensus.

"While institutional reforms may not fully resolve the chronic issues of extreme polarization and political retribution in Korean politics, they could serve as an effective first step toward alleviating them," he said.

The Korea Times commissioned the survey to gauge public sentiment. Hankook Research conducted phone interviews with 1,000 adults on Thursday and Friday. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, with a credibility rate of 95 percent. Further details are available on the National Election Survey Deliberation Commission's website.