OFFICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION REPUBLIC OF KOREA
For immediate release
June 8, 1952
Today President Syngman Rhee reiterated the main issue involved in the current political dispute, which he hopes will be quickly and quietly settled.
The basis of the solution offered by the administration to end the dispute rests upon the following points:
(1) A bicameral legislative system
(2) the direct election of the president.
Thus, President Rhee is reiterating his stand of March 6th and stressing his position that the Assembly may vote for whom it chooses as the next president, provided that it has passed the constitutional amendment as demanded by the expressed will of the people.
For the last four years, the public has constantly demanded the amendment’s passage, and the administration has requested it time and again, but to no avail. The Assembly has completely ignored the growing sentiment of the nation and passed resolution after resolution purporting to strengthen their power. After they voted against the administration-proposed amendment in March, they extended the current session to the end of June, the time for Presidential election in order to prevent a similar bill be presented again in the same session.
If the Assembly adopts the amendment now, the President would be satisfied regardless of who may be chosen as his successor. He is determined to have the Constitution amended before he leaves office in order to safeguard the republican form of government, by keeping it in the hands of the people instead of allowing a powerful secret group in the Assembly to gain control.
President Rhee states today: “I want to see the Republic established upon a firmer basis by giving the people power in the government rather than a small group in the legislature or the executive branch or both. Then and only then will the security of the nation be safeguarded.”
The President also pointed out that the recent resolution asking the release of an Assemblyman who shot and killed an army officer aroused public indignation and the recent political disturbance was the result. Fortunately, the declaration of martial law has stopped the open clashes between the people who are demanding the dissolution of the Assembly immediately and the Assemblymen who defy them. Meanwhile, thousand of people are coming to Pusan to settle the dispute with their representatives. President has issued a public statement urging them not to come in large numbers.
End.