통일 대비 부통령제 도입에 대한 고찰

This study explores the necessity of introducing a vice presidential system-which is expected to address the limitations of the current presidential system in South Korea and promote social integration in the era of Korean Unification-by reviewing general aspects of vice-presidential system. It then identifies key issues that need to be considered under both rapid and gradual unification scenarios. In general, the vice-presidential system offers several important advantages, including the promotion of national unity through the running mate mechanism, the assurance of governmental stability in the event of presidential incapacity or vacancy, the preservation of continuity in reflecting the popular will, and the establishment of a structural check on the concentration of executive power in the presidency. These functions also need to be dealt with in each state’s constitutional law. Specifically, it would be necessary to abolish the position of Prime Minister and include the Vice President as a member of the State Council. The Vice President should be constitutionally authorized to preside over Cabinet meetings in the absence of the President, and a constitutional provision should mandate consultation between the President and Vice President on critical matters such as martial law and pardons. Such measures would serve to clearly define and guarantee the responsibilities and authority of the Vice President. Building on this analysis, the paper pinpoints anticipated issues that may arise as Unified Korea introduces the vice presidency under two unification scenarios – rapid and gradual- and discusses their respective implications. In the case of rapid unification, where political and social instability is likely, the vice president’s role should be limited to supporting the president rather then mistakenly adopting power-sharing principle on relation between president and vice president as seen in the Yemen case. Given the complexity and significance of the vice president’s works to support the president, the president should nominate a candidate with substantial expertise and experience, subject to parliamentary approval to ensure basic democratic legitimacy. In a gradual unification scenario, the vice president’s role could be expanded beyond a supportive function to include serving as check on presidential power. This may include expanding mandatory consultation scope and regulating the same terms of office for both president and vice president and so forth. Additionally, considering a situation in which constitutional value integration can be smoothly formed between South and North Korean residents, a running mate system would be more feasible. Under the running mate system, political parties could nominate presidential and vice presidential candidates from both regions, promoting internal party cohesion and preventing post-unification regional polarization within the political landscape.