The interim leader of the main opposition party on Wednesday criticized President Park Geun-hye’s resistance to constitutional reform, calling her stance undemocratic.

New Politics Alliance for Democracy Rep. Moon Hee-sang’s comments added fire to the ongoing controversy over possible constitutional amendments, which aim to decrease the president’s powers.

“Any attempt by the president to intervene in the legislature’s moves to amend the Constitution is unthinkable,” Moon said.

Moon’s statement comes amid consistent remarks by President Park that clearly show her opposition to any discussion of revising the Constitution. She has said such talk would create an unnecessary political division that could worsen an already struggling economy. Park has called public debate over constitutional changes a “political black hole.”

Moon said Park’s stance was a breach of her executive powers.

“The separation of powers dictates that the legislature’s authority cannot be violated by the executive office in any way,” he said. “The parliament reserves the right to consider amendments to existing laws.”

Lawmakers have consistently broached the touchy topic of amending the Constitution, although serious debates have often fizzled out and produced no meaningful results.

But the idea has gained more parliamentary support, according to a survey by broadcaster CBS earlier this month. The poll said more than 230 of the country’s 300 lawmakers would support possible amendments. The number is enough to have a plenary session at the National Assembly pass amendments to the Constitution.

Last week, governing Saenuri Party Rep. Kim Moo-sung made headlines here by saying that there would be an “outpouring” of debate on constitutional reform toward the end of the year. Kim went so far as to propose specific ideas of his own, suggesting that South Korea should follow the Austrian model, in which the president shares executive powers with the chancellor.

The presidential office did not respond immediately to the comments, although rumors circulated in Seoul’s political circles that Park had been offended by Kim’s comments. Kim apologized to the president later, saying he had not intended his comments to cause such a public furor.

The presidential office responded Tuesday, saying that Kim’s comments had likely been calculated, and were probably made after much forethought.

Moon’s comments on Wednesday showed the opposition leader was in fact more in line with Kim.

Experts say Moon and Kim’s ultimate political objectives differ, however. Moon is aiming to decrease presidential power as the opposition is the parliamentary underdog at the moment. The NPAD holds 130 seats while the Saenuri Party holds 158 in the Assembly. Kim, on the other hand, is trying to grab the political spotlight in preparation for running in the 2017 presidential race, according to analysts.

By Jeong Hunny (hj257@heraldcorp.com)