Lee Ha-kyung
The author is a senior columnist at the JoongAng Ilbo.
Former President Roh Tae-woo agreed after the three-party merger to pursue a constitutional revision establishing a parliamentary cabinet system with Kim Young-sam and Kim Jong-pil. When political adviser Lee Hong-koo learned of the plan through a scoop by then JoongAng Ilbo reporter Park Bo-kyoon on May 29, 1990, he objected directly to the president.
President Lee Jae Myung, right, arrives for work at the Blue House on the morning of May 6. At left is Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]
According to the biography “Lee Hong-koo” by Kim Hak-joon, Lee argued that Roh’s greatest political asset was the June 29 Declaration, which promised direct presidential elections. Abandoning that principle would betray the public and discard the foundation of Roh’s political legitimacy. Though personally supportive of a parliamentary system, Lee believed constitutional change should not be pursued through a secret political bargain. The proposal ultimately collapsed amid strong opposition from Kim Young-sam.
