By Shim Jae-yun
National Assembly Speaker Chung Eui-hwa Wednesday said he will actively seek ways of holding inter-Korean parliamentary talks to discuss issues of reunification, cooperation and exchanges between the two Koreas.
"For this, I will try to collect opinions from lawmakers and consult with the government," he said during an interview with Yonhap.
He said President Park Geun-hye has already shown support for the idea, which he first initiated upon taking office as the House leader.
Chung unveiled a plan to contact North Korean authorities toward that end, including Kim Young-nam, the president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and Choi Tae-bok, chairman of the assembly.
"I believe we need to meet together to discuss the issue," he said.
According to Chung, the National Assembly will set up a task force composed of 13 experts, as well as a special committee to deal with the envisioned project.
Meanwhile, Chung said the National Assembly has agreed with Cheong Wa Dae to set up a hotline for direct communications between President Park and the House speaker.
"We had been calling for the hotline and received the number from the presidential office some days ago," he said.
He said he would not hesitate to telephone the president when necessary to covey the people's voice and in case there are faults on the part of the president, Cheong Wa Dae and the government.
There has been growing criticism that President Park lacks communication with the National Assembly, political parties and the people, which consequently resulted in various societal problems including the bungled response to the tragic Sewol disaster.
Touching upon the issue of constitutional revision, Chung cited the need for a constitution to prepare for the post-unification period.
The debate on the constitutional revision, should it take place, needs to focus on the implementation nine years after the completion of term of the president after President Park Geun-hye's tenure.
"Constitutional change is necessary. But it should not be focused on the shift of power structure. Rather it needs to prepare for the forthcoming national reunification," he said. He pledged he would make all possible efforts to revise the constitution should it go the direction of preparing for unification.
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| Chung Eui-hwa, House Speaker |
"For this, I will try to collect opinions from lawmakers and consult with the government," he said during an interview with Yonhap.
He said President Park Geun-hye has already shown support for the idea, which he first initiated upon taking office as the House leader.
Chung unveiled a plan to contact North Korean authorities toward that end, including Kim Young-nam, the president of the presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly and Choi Tae-bok, chairman of the assembly.
"I believe we need to meet together to discuss the issue," he said.
According to Chung, the National Assembly will set up a task force composed of 13 experts, as well as a special committee to deal with the envisioned project.
Meanwhile, Chung said the National Assembly has agreed with Cheong Wa Dae to set up a hotline for direct communications between President Park and the House speaker.
"We had been calling for the hotline and received the number from the presidential office some days ago," he said.
He said he would not hesitate to telephone the president when necessary to covey the people's voice and in case there are faults on the part of the president, Cheong Wa Dae and the government.
There has been growing criticism that President Park lacks communication with the National Assembly, political parties and the people, which consequently resulted in various societal problems including the bungled response to the tragic Sewol disaster.
Touching upon the issue of constitutional revision, Chung cited the need for a constitution to prepare for the post-unification period.
The debate on the constitutional revision, should it take place, needs to focus on the implementation nine years after the completion of term of the president after President Park Geun-hye's tenure.
"Constitutional change is necessary. But it should not be focused on the shift of power structure. Rather it needs to prepare for the forthcoming national reunification," he said. He pledged he would make all possible efforts to revise the constitution should it go the direction of preparing for unification.
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